Virginia Tech women’s basketball star Elizabeth Kitley will not play in the women’s NCAA tournament, coach Kenny Brooks announced on Thursday.
Kitley, who injured her knee in a loss in the regular season finale against Virginia on March 3, did not play in the ACC tournament, and up until Thursday was listed as questionable for the NCAA tournament.
“Elizabeth Kitley will not participate in the NCAA tournament this year due to a lower leg injury that she suffered on March 3,” Brooks said. “We’re just praying for her and her mental health right now, and she’s still a part of what we do and she’s big in what we’ve done. So, heartfelt, you know, just goes out to her, because everything that she’s done for this program and everything that she will continue to do through her legacy. So right now, our prayers are just up for her.”
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Brooks confirmed that it is a torn ACL for his star center, who was named an Associated Press second-team All-American on Wednesday. It is the third time in her career that she has received All-American honors from the Associated Press, after she was named as a second-team All-American last season, as well as a third-team All-American in 2021–22. Kitley also was named first-team All-ACC in four of her five seasons in Blacksburg.
In 29 games this season, Kitley averaged 22.8 points per game to go along with 11.4 rebounds on 55.6% shooting from the floor. She returned to school this season to use her extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19, and was intent on leading Virginia Tech back to the Final Four.
Even though she will not get that opportunity on the floor, she has cemented herself as one of the best athletes in school history.
