UNLV Retires Desi-Rae Young's No. 23 Jersey

The former Lady Rebel's jersey was honored before UNLV's 69-51 home-opening win over UTSA at The Pavilion.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Basketball

UNLV Retires Desi-Rae Young's No. 23 Jersey

UNLV retired the No. 23 jersey of Desi-Rae Young, a Desert Oasis High graduate and former Lady Rebels player, before its home opener against UTSA. The Rebels went on to defeat UTSA 69-51.

Why it matters

Young is the fourth Lady Rebel in program history to have her jersey retired and the first in 23 years, marking a rare honor for women's basketball at the school. The ceremony recognizes a local athlete who returned to the program's legacy during a home-opening game.

Young averaged 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a steal in her 2023-24 senior season, one of four Division I players to reach those marks. Jasmyn Lott led UNLV with 22 points, while UTSA shot 19.2 percent in the first half against the Rebels' 26 percent.

The players

Desi-Rae Young

A former UNLV women's basketball standout from Desert Oasis High who was a two-time conference Player of the Year.

UNLV Rebels

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas athletics program, whose women's basketball team is known as the Lady Rebels.

The details

UNLV used a 10-0 run in the second quarter to open a nine-point lead, with consecutive 3-pointers from Jasmyn Lott, then closed the third quarter on a 10-point stretch from the free-throw line to take a 53-37 lead. Young was a two-time conference Player of the Year and the seventh player in school history to earn All-America honorable mention.

2023-24: Young's senior season, when she posted her standout averages.
November 6, 2026: UNLV's home opener, when her jersey was retired and the Rebels beat UTSA 69-51.

Season Trajectory

Young's retirement is only the fourth jersey honor for a Lady Rebel in program history, underscoring how rarely the women's program has recognized its players. It follows a 23-year gap since the last such honor, placing the ceremony within a sparse history of women's basketball recognition at UNLV.

Fantasy and roster watchers tracking the Lady Rebels can note Jasmyn Lott's 22-point game as the team's leading scorer early in the season. UNLV is 1-1 after a loss to USC, so the opening stretch has set a mixed early tone for the program.

The takeaway

Young's jersey retirement is a rare honor that recognizes a player whose senior-season numbers ranked among the strongest in Division I. For fans, it is a reminder that the program's women's legacy is built on a small group of standout players.