Virginia Tech star player Elizabeth Kitley announced Thursday that she will miss the 2024 NCAA Women’s Tournament due to a season-ending knee injury. Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks confirmed the grad student center tore her ACL two weeks ago.

The three-time All-American wrote on social media: “On March 3rd I suffered a knee injury that is keeping me out of this years NCAA tournament This is not at all how I anticipated ending this year with my team, but I’m so proud of all of our accomplishments, and I’m excited to see my girls continue to compete. Thank you to all of Hokie Nation for being so supportive during this tough time. I’m looking forward to making a strong comeback”

Kitley suffered the torn ACL injury during her team’s loss to Virginia on March 3. With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Kitley hit a jumper to tie things up at 41-41, but injured. her leg when she landed, collapsing on the floor. Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks said of Elizabeth Kitley per ESPN: “She’s been emotional. I’ve been emotional. We probably text 30 times a day. She’s put everything into this. She’s the reason we’re here. … The kid eat, slept, drank everything #Hokies basketball. … For everything to be taken away from you in a split second, it’s devastating .. “It’s probably been the hardest two weeks I’ve ever had coaching.”

Kitley led the fourth-seeded Hokies with 22.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game this season. She was the ACC Player of the Year three years running, named first-team All-ACC four times, and made the conference’s All-Defensive Team three times. Kitley also became the ACC’s all-time leader in rebounds on Dec. 21, surpassing former Virginia Tech forward Regan Magarity.

The Hokies will play their first round game against No. 13 seed Marshall on Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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