WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A member of the Leroy Keyes Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024, Katie Gearlds will be officially inducted on Friday.
Gearlds is a Boilermaker through and through, both as a player and now as head coach of Purdue Women's Basketball.
She is a four-year letterwinner who appeared in 133 games with 100 starts for the Boilers from 2004-07.
A four-time All-Big Ten selection and three-time All-Big Ten Tournament team honoree, Gearlds was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2004.
Gearlds helped lead Purdue to two Big Ten Tournament titles and ranks fourth in program history with 1,974 career points. She also tied for ninth-fastest in program history to join the 1,000-point club, reaching the plateau in just 80 games.
As a senior in 2007, Gearlds earned Third Team All-America (AP) and Honorable Mention All-America (WBCA) recognition.
Her single-game scoring record of 41 points still stands in the school record book, and she was selected seventh overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2007 WNBA Draft. She remains the highest draft pick in program history.
Gearlds played three seasons with the Storm before also playing professionally in Spain, Greece, Portugal and Slovakia.
Entering her fourth season as head coach, she has led the Boilermakers to postseason play in each of her first three seasons.
Gearlds inked a contract extension in the summer of 2024 that will keep her home in West Lafayette through the 2028-29 season. Establishing a new culture, revamping recruiting and reconnecting with the alumnae and fan bases, she has the Boilermakers headed in the right direction.
Gearlds is a Boilermaker through and through, both as a player and now as head coach of Purdue Women's Basketball.
She is a four-year letterwinner who appeared in 133 games with 100 starts for the Boilers from 2004-07.
A four-time All-Big Ten selection and three-time All-Big Ten Tournament team honoree, Gearlds was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2004.
Gearlds helped lead Purdue to two Big Ten Tournament titles and ranks fourth in program history with 1,974 career points. She also tied for ninth-fastest in program history to join the 1,000-point club, reaching the plateau in just 80 games.
As a senior in 2007, Gearlds earned Third Team All-America (AP) and Honorable Mention All-America (WBCA) recognition.
Her single-game scoring record of 41 points still stands in the school record book, and she was selected seventh overall by the Seattle Storm in the 2007 WNBA Draft. She remains the highest draft pick in program history.
Gearlds played three seasons with the Storm before also playing professionally in Spain, Greece, Portugal and Slovakia.
Entering her fourth season as head coach, she has led the Boilermakers to postseason play in each of her first three seasons.
Gearlds inked a contract extension in the summer of 2024 that will keep her home in West Lafayette through the 2028-29 season. Establishing a new culture, revamping recruiting and reconnecting with the alumnae and fan bases, she has the Boilermakers headed in the right direction.