The 2023 World Series of Poker continued rolling out the celebrity welcomes as Event #3, $1,000 Mystery Millions got underway, with Las Vegas Aces All-Star guard Kelsey Plum on hand for the event's traditional "Shuffle up and deal!" kickoff.
Plum, who has burst into WNBA stardom since returning to the Aces from a knee injury that cost her 2020 season, joined WSOP Vice President and lead tournament director Jack Effel at the Paris Ballroom podium to get the first of four Mystery Millions starting flights underway.
"I’m honored to play a role in the first marquee event of the 2023 World Series of Poker and unveil the iconic WSOP bracelet, one of the most prestigious trophies in sports,” Plum told the waiting players. “This tournament holds a special place in our city and should set new records this year awarding more championship hardware. Let the cards fly and good luck to all the players!" Plum also displayed one of the new 2023 WSOP winner's bracelets that will be awarded to the champions of all but a few special events this summer.
“Kelsey knows a thing or two about championship hardware, so it was a fitting choice to have her unveil this year’s WSOP gold bracelets,” said World Series of Poker Executive Director Ty Stewart. “We are thrilled to have one of Vegas’ brightest stars be a willing rookie at today’s event. That’s the great thing about the WSOP, you don’t have to be a poker ‘Ace’ to enter, you’ll fit right in with thousands of first-time players.”
Plum's mid-career WNBA surge has been meteoric. She won the WNBA's Sixth Player award in 2021, and last season, she set new personal highs in both points and assists per game while leading the Aces to their first-ever championship. Plum was also named the 2022 WNBA All-Star Game MVP.
Plum also plays a bit of poker as well, and after dispensing with her event-opening duties, she soon took a seat herself in the Mystery Millions. Plum's poker outing was shorter thn she hoped, however, as she lost most of her chips to an opponent's rivered full house early on, and she ran out of chips just a few hands later.
Featured image source: WSOP
