The jersey of three-time All-American Tresa Spaulding Hamson, No.54, was officially retired at the Marriott Center during halftime of BYU’s women’s basketball game against Arizona State on Saturday.
Spaulding becomes just the third BYU women’s basketball player to receive this honor, joining No. 44 Tina Gunn Robison and No. 22 Jackie Beene McBride in the rafters.
One of the greatest players in BYU women’s basketball history, Spaulding was a three-time All-American and two-time HCAC Player of the Year (1983–87). She made an immediate impact as a freshman, earning All-America honors and setting BYU’s single-game blocks record (9), which she later broke twice as a sophomore (10).
On the international stage, she won gold with Team USA at the 1983 World University Games and was an alternate for the 1984 Olympics. She later helped Team USA secure a silver medal in 1985.
After graduating in 1987, Spaulding played professionally in Europe for two years before returning to BYU, where she earned a master’s in exercise science and athletic training in 1996.
The past and present of BYU WBB🫶 pic.twitter.com/KIooUVPlYs
— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) February 23, 2025
Her legacy continues through her daughters, all of whom have played for BYU. Jennifer Hamson (2010–14) earned All-American honors in 2014 and helped lead the Cougars to their second Sweet 16.
Sara Hamson (2017–22) ranks second in career blocks (472), just 22 shy of her mother’s BYU record (494). The youngest, Heather, is currently a junior and scored a career-high 11 points against No. 12 Kansas State on January 11, 2025.
When asked which was harder —playing or watching her daughters play —Spaulding laughed and said, “Oh, definitely watching my daughters play… I will yell at the refs.”
Reflecting on what she would tell her younger self if she had known this moment would come, Spaulding said. “Believe in yourself. Keep having more confidence in yourself. Keep working hard. It was easier for me because I came into a good team my freshman year, and my job was to score."
During the ceremony, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe and President C. Shane Reese highlighted how her jersey will stand as a permanent symbol of her legacy, both on and off the court.
No. 54 forever will live in the rafters, never to be worn again in the Marriott Center.