Image courtesy of the DAC
Basketball has turned Keishana Washington ’22 into a globetrotter.
In July, she was in Toronto competing for her native Canada at Globl Jam, an under-23 tournament featuring women’s teams from around the world. A few days later, she flew to Chile for a three-on-three tournament and then headed to Hungary in August to play in the Senior Women’s 3X3 Series. In September, she started her professional career in Poland, where she plays for the club Energa Torun.
All of these paths lead back to Philadelphia, where over the previous five years, she authored one of the most remarkable careers in Drexel women’s basketball history.
“She is one of those players you see when you’re recruiting her and you think, ‘She’s a program changer,’” Drexel coach Amy Mallon says. “And she certainly made her mark on our program.”
Both on and off the court. Washington’s 2,363 points are second all-time in program history (and fourth in Coastal Athletic Association history). Last season, she was named CAA Player of the Year and All-America honorable mention. But the award she’s most proud of winning is CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which she took home in 2022.
“It shows that I value my academics as much as I do my on-court performance, which is something my parents instilled in me at a very early age,” says Washington, who graduated last year with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, maintaining a 3.74 GPA. She was one of eight students admitted to Drexel’s psychology master’s program (she’s still working on her graduate degree).
A native of Pickering, Ontario, Washington began shooting hoops with her dad when she was 4. By the time she was playing competitively at 9, it was her favorite sport.
“I played soccer as well but I didn’t like running around and not scoring for long periods of time,” she says. “Basketball was just a lot more fun.”
When she arrived at Drexel, Washington was a polished player, but she was reticent, unwilling to say much to anyone.
“She was very quiet, very shy,” Mallon says. “She would have her head down when she walked through the hallways. By the end she was such a great leader on and off the floor. She set the tone just leading by example and her work ethic in the gym every day.”
As she matured, she exerted her will on the court. In her junior year, she led the Dragons to their first CAA championship since 2009 by scoring a then career-high 35 points in the semifinal and 30 in the title game. She was named CAA Tournament MVP. The next season, she helped Drexel win a program best 28 games and the CAA regular season crown.
After graduating, Washington (who had one more year of eligibility remaining) was one of the most sought-out players in the country. She could have transferred anywhere but decided to come back for a fifth season.
“Having the connection that I do with everyone in the program, from coaches to teammates, administration, support staff, I think those relationships have helped me in a lot of ways,” she says. “I had the chance to go wherever I wanted, but I chose to stay, and I think that shows the kind of program that we have. I became the player that I am at Drexel. I hope that people who come into this program trust the process and know that they will develop into a great player if they put in the time and the effort.”
Washington certainly has, and it has paid off. She still harbors dreams of playing in the WNBA; after her playing days are over, she might become a college coach, or maybe she’ll conduct research relating to the brain. But for now, she’s focused on playing pro ball in Poland.
“It’s something I need to give a shot,” she says. “If I like it, great. If I don’t, I’ll find a passion somewhere else.”
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