Elizabeth Kitley

Kitley grew up playing basketball, softball and volleyball, preferring softball by fifth grade. She switched her focus to basketball before her freshman year at Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, when she stood 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m).{{cite web |last1=London |first1=Mike |title=Ralph and Elizabeth: Kitleys are a basketball family |url=https://www.salisburypost.com/2022/01/23/ralph-and-elizabeth-kitleys-are-a-basketball-family/ |website=Salisbury Post |access-date=July 18, 2022 |date=January 23, 2022}} As a sophomore, Kitley led Northwest Guilford to its first state championship at the 4A tournament and was named most valuable player (MVP) of the title game.{{cite web |last1=Mundy |first1=J.P. |title=Northwest Guilford girls makes history with 4-A basketball title |url=https://journalnow.com/sports/high-school/northwest-guilford-girls-makes-history-with-4-a-basketball-title/article_5119e361-5dfc-5089-81fc-d19a45f7aa81.html |website=Winston-Salem Journal |access-date=July 22, 2022 |date=March 11, 2017}} She helped her team win another state title in her junior season, repeating as MVP of the title game.{{cite web |last1=Mundy |first1=J.P. |title=Northwest Guilford's 'true grit' leads to another title |url=https://greensboro.com/northwest-guilfords-true-grit-leads-to-another-title/article_56d3103d-c922-56ec-ba0c-0fe4bb1240de.html |website=News & Record |access-date=July 22, 2022 |date=March 10, 2018}} Before her senior season, Kitley suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during an Amateur Athletic Union game. Following surgery, she was sidelined until the final two games of the season.{{cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Mark |title=Center of attention: Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley named ACC player of the year |url=https://roanoke.com/sports/college/va_tech/center-of-attention-virginia-techs-elizabeth-kitley-named-acc-player-of-the-year/article_03c19d0a-98f8-11ec-b643-b799fe1f7b32.html |website=The Roanoke Times |access-date=July 22, 2022 |date=March 1, 2022}} Rated a five-star recruit by ESPN,{{cite web |title=Elizabeth Kitley 2019 High School Girls' Basketball Profile |url=http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/224190 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=July 22, 2022}} she committed to play for Virginia Tech at the college level under head coach Kenny Brooks.{{cite web |last1=Sirera |first1=Joe |title=Northwest Guilford's Liz Kitley says Virginia Tech 'just felt like home' |url=https://greensboro.com/sports/high-school/basketball/northwest-guilfords-liz-kitley-says-virginia-tech-just-felt-like-home/article_b018a368-db66-11e7-980e-d796097dfb20.html |website=News & Record |access-date=July 22, 2022 |date=December 7, 2017}}

On November 5, 2019, Kitley made her collegiate debut and scored a season-high 27 points, shooting 13-of-15 from the field, in a 105–41 win over Saint Francis (PA). She recorded the most points by a Virginia Tech freshman in a debut.{{cite web |title=Kitley honored by ACC after stellar opening week |url=https://hokiesports.com/news/2019/11/11/womens-basketball-kitley-honored-by-acc-after-stellar-opening-week.aspx |publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics |access-date=July 22, 2022 |date=November 11, 2019}} As a freshman, Kitley averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game and was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Year.{{cite web |last1=Epps Jr. |first1=Wayne |title=Women's basketball around the Commonwealth provided plenty to remember in 2019-20 |url=https://richmond.com/sports/college/plus/women-s-basketball-around-the-commonwealth-provided-plenty-to-remember-in-2019-20/article_bd6e7262-2e5b-57b4-8e37-19a9c061ae8b.html |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |access-date=July 24, 2022 |date=March 17, 2020}} On December 4, 2020, she posted a sophomore season-high 30 points and 11 rebounds in an 84–59 win against Appalachian State.{{cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Mark |title=Elizabeth Kitley scores 30 points in Virginia Tech win over Appalachian State |url=https://roanoke.com/sports/local/elizabeth-kitley-scores-30-points-in-virginia-tech-win-over-appalachian-state/article_21ef3c84-367e-11eb-a0a8-93d38dbac52c.html |website=The Roanoke Times |access-date=July 22, 2022 |date=December 4, 2020}} On January 17, 2021, Kitley tied the program single-game record with 21 rebounds, while scoring 18 points in a 67–64 loss to Wake Forest.{{cite web |last1=Niziolek |first1=Mike |title=Virginia Tech women's basketball struggles down the stretch in loss to Wake Forest |url=https://roanoke.com/sports/college/va_tech/virginia-tech-women-s-basketball-struggles-down-the-stretch-in-loss-to-wake-forest/article_cc31b096-591a-11eb-a431-cba263a0ac5a.html |website=The Roanoke Times |access-date=July 22, 2022 |date=January 17, 2021}} One week later, she scored 30 points for a second time, along with 13 rebounds, in an 89–87 loss to AP No. 2 NC State.{{cite web |title=Kitley registers 30-point afternoon in 89-87 loss at No. 2 NC State |url=https://hokiesports.com/news/2021/1/24/womens-basketball-kitley-registers-30-point-afternoon-in-89-87-loss-at-no-2-nc-state.aspx |publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics |access-date=July 22, 2022 |date=January 24, 2021}} Kitley averaged 18.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore, earning first-team All-ACC honors.

On November 11, 2021, Kitley tallied 34 points and nine rebounds, making a program-record 17 field goals, in a 75–38 win over George Washington.{{cite web |title=Elizabeth Kitley opens season as ACC's Co-Player of the Week |url=https://hokiesports.com/news/2021/11/15/womens-basketball-elizabeth-kitley-opens-season-as-accs-co-player-of-the-week.aspx |publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics |access-date=July 24, 2022 |date=November 15, 2021}} On December 19, she posted 34 points and 13 rebounds in a 92–75 win against Florida State.{{cite web |last1=Ferrante |first1=Bob |title=Kitley, Amoore too much as VT defeats FSU |url=https://theosceola.com/kitley-amoore-too-much-as-vt-defeats-fsu/ |website=The Osceola |access-date=July 24, 2022 |date=December 19, 2021}} Kitley sustained a right shoulder injury against North Carolina in the quarterfinals of the 2022 ACC tournament and was sidelined as her team lost to NC State in the following game.{{cite web |last1=Philippou |first1=Alexa |title=Virginia Tech Hokies' ACC women's basketball tournament run ends without star Elizabeth Kitley in loss to NC State |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33431247/virginia-tech-hokies-acc-women-basketball-tournament-run-ends-star-elizabeth-kitley-loss-nc-state |publisher=ESPN |access-date=July 24, 2022 |date=March 5, 2022}} She returned for the first round of the NCAA tournament. During the game, Kitley set the Virginia Tech single-game scoring record with 42 points in an 84–81 loss to 12th-seeded Florida Gulf Coast.{{cite web |title=Kitley scores 42 points in Virginia Tech's 84-81 loss to FGCU |url=https://hokiesports.com/news/2022/3/18/virginia-tech-womens-basketball-game-recap-florida-gulf-coast-ncaa-tournament.aspx |publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics |access-date=July 23, 2022 |date=March 18, 2022}} As a junior, she averaged 18.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. Kitley was named ACC Player of the Year and repeated as a first-team All-ACC selection. She received third-team All-American recognition from the AP and United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and was a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America team.{{cite web |title=Elizabeth Kitley – Women's Basketball |url=https://hokiesports.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/elizabeth-kitley/12484 |publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics |access-date=July 24, 2022}}

On February 23, 2023, Kitley set the Virginia Tech career scoring record, while posting 21 points and 10 rebounds and making the game-winning shot at the buzzer, in a 61–59 win over North Carolina.{{cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Mark |title=Tech's Kitley sets Hokies' all-time scoring record, then hits buzzer-beater winner |url=https://richmond.com/sports/college/techs-kitley-sets-hokies-all-time-scoring-record-then-hits-buzzer-beater-winner/article_72ad072f-ee87-5167-8b7d-2e07e9afbd97.html |website=The Roanoke Times |access-date=October 31, 2023 |date=February 24, 2023}} Three days later, she had a senior season-high 29 points and 11 rebounds in a 65–52 victory over Georgia Tech.{{cite web |title=Kitley Scores 29, Tech Sets Single-Season ACC Wins Record |url=https://www.dnronline.com/sports/ap/regional_sports/kitley-scores-29-tech-sets-single-season-acc-wins-record/article_f7a8487d-c5f2-5a25-b94f-12d983e13c1c.html |website=Daily News-Record |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=October 31, 2023 |date=February 26, 2023}} At the 2023 NCAA tournament, Kitley led Virginia Tech to its first Final Four.{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Ed |title=Kitley leads Hokies into first-ever Final Four |url=https://greensboro.com/sports/basketball/kitley-leads-hokies-into-first-ever-final-four/article_02a4b422-cf3c-11ed-a620-4745aed5fb41.html |website=News & Record |access-date=October 31, 2023 |date=March 30, 2023}} As a senior, she averaged 18.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game, becoming Virginia Tech's all-time leader in points, field goals, blocks and double-doubles. Kitley repeated as ACC Player of the Year, made the WBCA All-America team and was named a second-team All-American by the AP and USBWA.{{cite web |title=Elizabeth Kitley an AP preseason All-American Tuesday |url=https://hokiesports.com/news/2023/10/24/womens-basketball-elizabeth-kitley-an-ap-preseason-all-american.aspx |publisher=Virginia Tech Athletics |access-date=October 31, 2023 |date=October 24, 2023}}

Despite being a projected first-round pick in the 2023 WNBA draft, she returned for a fifth season of eligibility, granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Philippou |first1=Alexa |title=Hokies star Elizabeth Kitley returning for fifth season |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/36046014/hokies-star-elizabeth-kitley-returning-fifth-season |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 31, 2023 |date=April 2, 2023}} After the spring 2023 semester, Kitley completed her Bachelor of Science in human nutrition with concentrations in foods and exercise and summa cum laude honors.

On December 21, 2023, Kitley became the ACC all-time leader in rebounds, recording 23 points and 17 rebounds in a 76–43 win over William & Mary.{{cite web |title=Kitley sets ACC career rebounding record in No. 15 Virginia Tech's 76-43 win over William & Mary |url=https://apnews.com/sports/college-basketball-womens-college-basketball-virginia-tech-hokies-9f63b7e398821b634ea29dd20e81c57d |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=February 11, 2024 |date=December 21, 2023}} On January 7, 2024, she made a game-winning layup while posting 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 63–62 win over AP No. 3 NC State.{{cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Jimmy |title=Kitley makes game-winner, No. 13 Virginia Tech women beat previously undefeated No. 3 NC State 63-62 |url=https://apnews.com/article/virginia-tech-north-carolina-state-basketball-score-kitley-9da5e03953badc3e1f1cf1cca940cf90 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=February 11, 2024 |date=January 7, 2024}} On March 3, 2024, in the regular season finale against the University of Virginia, Kitley suffered an ACL injury in her left leg that would sideline her indefinitely, ending her collegiate basketball career.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-21 |title=Hokies' Kitley out of NCAA tourney with torn ACL |url=https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/39777467/virginia-tech-elizabeth-kitley-miss-ncaa-tournament-torn-acl |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} She would be named ACC Player of the Year the same season, becoming only the fifth in the award's history to earn the honor three separate occasions. Kitley finished her career at Virginia Tech with all-time program records in games started, minutes played, points scored, field-goal percentage, field goals made, double-doubles, rebounds, and blocks.{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Eric |date=2024-04-14 |title=Elizabeth Kitley to have jersey retired |url=https://www.wsls.com/sports/2024/04/14/elizabeth-kitley-to-have-jersey-retired-2/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=WSLS |language=en}}

On April 13, 2024, immediately following Kitley's final season as a student-athlete, Virginia Tech Athletics announced that her jersey number would be formally retired.{{Cite web |title=Virginia Tech Athletics set to retire jersey of Elizabeth Kitley |url=https://hokiesports.com/news/2024/04/13/virginia-tech-athletics-set-to-retire-jersey-of-elizabeth-kitley |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Virginia Tech Athletics |language=en-US}} The ceremony took place on January 19, 2025, at Cassell Coliseum, the Hokies home venue.{{Cite web |last=Walls |first=Dave |date=2025-01-20 |title=Virginia Tech honors Elizabeth Kitley with jersey retirement |url=https://wset.com/sports/college-sports/virginia-tech-honors-elizabeth-kitley-with-jersey-retirement |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=WSET |language=en}} Kitley's jersey number is the first and only to be retired by the Hokies women's basketball program in the 21st century.{{Cite web |title=Retired Numbers & Jerseys At Virginia Tech |url=https://hokiesports.com/retired-numbers-and-jerseys-at-virginia-tech |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Virginia Tech Athletics |language=en-US}}

On April 15, 2024, the Las Vegas Aces selected Kitley with the 24th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-16 |title=Triad native Elizabeth Kitley selected by Las Vegas Aces in WNBA Draft |url=https://www.wunc.org/sports/2024-04-16/elizabeth-kitley-wnba-draft-las-vegas-aces-guilford-acc |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=WUNC |language=en}} Due to her ACL injury, the Aces suspended her contract and reserved her rights, but she was allowed to utilize their facilities in her recovery.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-04 |title=Aces sign 2024 draftee, who earns praise from Wilson: ‘That’s my girl’ |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/aces/aces-re-sign-2024-draftee-who-earns-praise-from-wilson-thats-my-girl-3274726/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}

On February 3, 2025, Kitley signed her rookie contract with the Aces.{{Cite web |title=Las Vegas Aces Sign Rookie Center Elizabeth Kitley |url=https://aces.wnba.com/news/las-vegas-aces-sign-rookie-center-elizabeth-kitley |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=aces.wnba.com |language=en}}

{{WNBA player statistics legend}}

{{WNBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20

| style="text-align:left;"| Virginia Tech

| 30 || 30 || 26.8 || 56.2 ||20.0|| 66.7 || 7.5 || 0.7 || 0.2 || 2.1 || 2.2 || 12.5

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21

| style="text-align:left;"| Virginia Tech

| 25 || 25 || 35.6 || 53.1 ||42.9|| 78.0 || 10.4 || 2.0 || 0.5 || 1.9 || 2.8 || 18.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22

| style="text-align:left;"| Virginia Tech

| 32 || 32 || 32.0 || 55.1 ||16.7|| 72.4 || 9.8 || 1.5 || 0.5 || 2.4 || 2.0 || 18.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| style="text-align:left;"| Virginia Tech

| 35 || 35 || 34.8 || 55.8 ||20.0|| 72.2 || 10.7 || 1.5 || 0.6 || 2.4 || 2.2 || 18.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| style="text-align:left;"| Virginia Tech

| 29|| 29 || 34.3 || 55.6 ||40.0|| 77.4 || 11.4 || 1.8 || 0.6 || 2.1 || 2.1 || style="background:#D3D3D3"|22.8°

|- class="sortbottom"

|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career

|151||151||32.6||55.2||28.6||73.5||10.0||1.5||0.5||2.2||2.2||17.9

|- class="sortbottom"

|style="text-align:center;" colspan="14"|Statistics retrieved from Sports-Reference.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/elizabeth-kitley-1.html|title=Elizabeth Kitley College Stats|publisher=Sports-Reference|accessdate=April 11, 2024}}

{{S-end}}

Kitley's father, Ralph, played professional basketball in Germany and Brazil, following a college career at Wake Forest. He later became a high school principal, teacher and basketball coach.

{{Reflist}}

{{commons}}

• [http://www.instagram.com/elizabethkitley/ Elizabeth Kitley instagram]
• [https://hokiesports.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/elizabeth-kitley/13414 Virginia Tech Hokies bio]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20220127000743/https://www.usab.com/basketball/players/womens/k/kitley-elizabeth.aspx USA Basketball bio]

{{Las Vegas Aces current roster}}

{{2024 WNBA draft}}

{{Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kitley, Elizabeth}}

Category:2001 births

Category:Living people

Category:American women's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from North Carolina

Category:People from Summerfield, North Carolina

Category:Sportspeople from Guilford County, North Carolina

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Virginia Tech Hokies women's basketball players

Category:All-American college women's basketball players

Category:Las Vegas Aces draft picks

Category:21st-century American sportswomen