UNLV to Retire Desi-Rae Young's Jersey on November 6
The Lady Rebels will honor the star athlete during the season home opener against UT San Antonio.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball
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UNLV will retire Desi-Rae Young's No. 23 jersey on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. The ceremony is scheduled to take place during the basketball team's home opener against UT San Antonio.
Why it matters
The honor recognizes Young as a foundational player in the program, marking the first time in 23 years that the university has retired a jersey for a Lady Rebel.
Young is one of only two Lady Rebels to reach 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. She also collected 11 Mountain West Player of the Week honors and three consecutive first-team all-conference selections during her tenure.
The players
Desi-Rae Young
She is a standout basketball player who earned All-American status and two Mountain West Player of the Year awards while playing for UNLV.
UNLV
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is a public research university that competes in the Mountain West Conference.
UT San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public research university that fields teams in various NCAA Division I sports.
The details
As a two-time Mountain West Player of the Year and All-American, Young led the program to significant success, including a 2023 Mountain West Tournament MVP title. Despite the retirement of her number, the university noted that the No. 23 jersey will remain available for future players to wear.
Timeline
Friday, Nov. 6, 2026: UNLV retires Desi-Rae Young's jersey during the home opener.
Season Trajectory
The ceremony marks the first time UNLV has retired a jersey since the 2003 jersey retirement of a Lady Rebel. This decision highlights the historic legacy of the program and sets a new benchmark for recognition within the Mountain West Conference.
Fans attending the home opener against UT San Antonio will see the jersey retirement ceremony during the event. Future roster adjustments will not be affected by this honor, as the university confirmed the No. 23 jersey remains available for other players.
The takeaway
Young's career at UNLV serves as a benchmark for student-athletes striving for high-level conference and national recognition. Her legacy highlights the long-term impact individual players can have on the history and culture of a collegiate program.
Further reading
Find more coverage of local university athletics on the Basketball page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KSNV.
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