Nicole Ohlde redefined excellence at Kansas State from 2000 to 2004. A two-time Kodak and USBWA All-American, she not only left as the school’s all-time leader in points (2,241), rebounds (970), and blocks (201) , but also earned Big 12 Player of the Year honors in both her junior and senior seasons . In 2004, she guided the Wildcats to their first shared Big 12 regular-season title and earned conference Female Athlete of the Year—all while finishing as a finalist for the Wade Trophy and Naismith Award .
Ohlde’s impact was both prolific and consistent: over 126 games she averaged 17.8 PPG and 7.9 RPG, shooting over 55% from the field . Her senior year saw her hit major program milestones—including surpassing the Big 12 career scoring record—and becoming the first Kansas State woman to have her number (No. 3) retired .
The accolades continue beyond college. Ohlde was drafted sixth overall in the 2004 WNBA draft, later winning a title with the Phoenix Mercury in 2009. She earned international success as a two-time USA Basketball gold medalist and maintained Academic All-Big 12 honors throughout her collegiate career .
While icons like Taurasi, Miller, and Woodard transformed the model for women’s hoops, it’s Nicole Ohlde’s dominance, record-breaking performance, and polished leadership at Kansas State that captured ESPN’s attention. In Manhattan, Kansas, the volleyball nets replaced by basketball nets echo her legacy: Ohlde is the gold standard.
