Kelsey Plum on the WNBA premiere, “little” All-Star MVP trophy, and their new brand partnership

“I don’t want people to feel sorry – I want you guys to come and watch me play because I’m great at what I do,” Kelsey Plum told a news

After winning the 2022 WNBA, All-Star MVP, Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum said she was partnering with women’s fashion brand GSTQ.

“I’m so excited,” Plum told news over the phone. “I think it’s a breakthrough in fashion. I don’t think a WNBA player has ever signed a deal like this with a fashion label,” he said of the partnership between the two women.

Owner and designer Dani Garcia, who calls Plum “just a world-famous businesswoman,” launched the brand last year.

“Women make the clothes for women, and I can walk from the boardroom to date night on the plane. They are comfortable, sexy, and exquisite,” said Plum.

“I think the shoot went so well because I liked the dress,” she added.

For Plum, her partnership with the Garcia brand represents what matters most to her as an athlete and role model.

“In our league, I think as a woman, people often feel like they’re helping you by supporting you or watching you … and I don’t think that’s intentional,” explains Plumb.

“I don’t want any sympathy from people,” he continued. “I want you to watch me play because I’m so good, man or woman.” It’s no secret that the WNBA has long struggled with attendance, especially compared to the NBA. However, in recent years, the women’s basketball league has seen real momentum, as evidenced by attendance at this year’s All-Star Game, the most attended since 2015. According to The Athletic, the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game reached 768,000 spectators.

Plum notes the narrative differences between the two leagues. “It’s so interesting when you see LeBron James play that you don’t say, ‘I support LeBron.’ Instead, you say, ‘I’m going to watch LeBron play basketball.’ right?” “When I go out on the court or do press conferences or interviews, I try to make sure that I talk about it,” the 27-year-old said.

“This is not charity,” Plum told PEOPLE just two days after a photo of him with his WNBA All-Star MVP trophy sparked discussion about how the league could be better.