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DURHAM, N.C—The Duke Blue Devils recorded a win against #17 Kentucky last night, but that wasn’t the only reason for celebration at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
It was also a night to celebrate four-time All-American center, Elizabeth Williams, as she became the third Duke women’s basketball player to see her jersey hang from the rafters. She now joins fellow alumni Alana Beard and Lindsey Harding in receiving this prestigious honor.
Williams was also joined in the halftime celebration by her former teammates, and delivered an emotional speech as they raised her No. 1 jersey.
“I was not expecting to be so emotional. Most people who know me know I stay kind of the same," Williams said, according to the Duke Chronicle.
"[My classmates have] just seen me grow as a person and have been my best friends since then and are still my best friends now, so for them to share this moment with me obviously meant a whole lot. I was really excited and overcome with emotion that they were there.”
While at Duke, Williams averaged 14.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 3.1 bpg. Williams graduated as the fourth-leading scorer in Duke history and the second leading rebounder. She was also the first player ever in the ACC to earn All-American status during each season.
Williams was the fourth pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft, and as member of the Atlanta Dream this past season, she was named the 2016 Most Improved Player by the league. WNBA President Lisa Borders was also on hand to offer praise for Williams.
"She’s an impact player is what I would say. You can watch not just the points she puts on the board, but the footwork she uses to move in the paint, the blocked shots she’s able to reach—she’s incredible," Borders said, according to the Duke Chronicle.