Yow has inspired the nation through her battle with breast cancer. For her courage and perserverance, she was presented with the inaugural Jimmy V ESPY at the 15th annual ESPY Awards show in 2007 and had NC State's Reynolds Coliseum basketball court christened "Kay Yow Court,"prior to the Wolfpack's 72-65 victory over second-ranked North Carolina on February 16, 2007. In addition, Yow was presented the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA) "Bob Bradley Spirit & Courage Award."

Yow has compiled an impressive 729-335 career record, including nearly 700 wins at the helm of the Wolfpack. Yow became just the sixth Division I women's basketball coach to earn 700 career victories on February 5, 2007 and with a 65-36 victory over Seton Hall on Dec. 2, 2004, Yow became just the sixth coach in women's basketball history to record 600 wins at the same school. In September 2002, Yow was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

In her 33 seasons as NC State's head coach, Yow has led the Wolfpack to at least 20 wins in a season 22 times. Her teams have received 20 NCAA Tournament bids in the 27-year history of the Tournament, including 11 since 1995. Yow was selected as Sports Illustrated for Women's Coach of the Year in 2000 and on Nov. 11, 1999, she was awarded the President and Mrs. George Bush Community Impact Award. Yow has led the Wolfpack to four ACC Tournament titles, the most recent in 1991. Yow's 1998 squad made the program's first appearance in the NCAA Final Four after defeating No. 2 Old Dominion and No. 3 Connecticut in the Regionals. With 729 wins, Yow ranks fifth nationally among the winningest Division I active women's basketball coaches by victories.

In major international competition, Yow's teams have compiled a 21-1 record, and her 1998 U.S. Olympic team won gold in Seoul, Korea. As head coach at Elon College, Yow's teams posted a 57-19 record and won two North Carolina state titles.