Catching up with the Queen: Virginia Tech Legend Liz Kitley Talks Injury, Rehab, and Hopes for the Upcoming WNBA Season

The Aces finally have their Queen!

After a year of rehab from her knee injury, Liz Kitley has signed her WNBA contract and is looking forward to starting her comeback with the Las Vegas Aces.

Hokie Nation has missed its star player, who was drafted a year ago after exhausting her collegiate eligibility, finishing a career that was full of accomplishment both on and off the court.

Her list of accolades is tremendous, but it was her media presence, particularly through her Queens of Cassell podcast, that endeared the three-time ACC player of the year to the fanbase.  It brought the superstar closer to the community, allowing people to connect with her as an everyday person and not just as a basketball player.

That – along with success on the court – resulted in a tremendous following for Kitley, a fan favorite of Hokie Nation, and the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team.

However, Kitley’s unfortunate injury, coupled with her move to Las Vegas to be with the Aces, has kept her out of the public eye for most of the past year, something that Hokie Nation is not used to experiencing.

With only a month until the start of the WNBA season, it was time to catch up with the Queen of Cassell and find out what life has been like since she left campus.

An Unfortunate End to a Generational Collegiate Career

March 3, 2024 is a date many in Hokie Nation would like to forget.

In the finale in Charlottesville, Kitley suffered a season-ending injury against in-state rival Virginia.  Those who watched the play – a fast break layup where she was fouled and landed awkwardly – will remember the ominous feeling when her teammates rushed over to help her up, but Kitley just held her left knee and shook her head “No.”

“I basically knew right away,” she said, reflecting on the severity of the injury that would soon be confirmed as a torn ACL.

The Hokies, who had clinched the regular season ACC title, would go on to lose in the second round of both the conference and the NCAA tournaments without their all-time leading scorer, rebounder, and shot-blocker. 

Just like that, a season of “what could be” became a post-season of “what could have been.”

It was even worse for the record-setting center, who never dreamed her college career would end like that.  Almost immediately after the game in which she was injured, she grappled with a sudden and overwhelming range of emotions.

There was so much on her mind:  not being able to finish that final regular season game against Virginia, not being able to play in the conference tournament where the Hokies were the top seed, not being able to make another run at a Final Four, not being on the court with her teammates.  It was a very difficult end to a tremendous season and a legendary career.

On top of that, Kitley, who was mentioned by many as a likely first-round pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, now experienced much uncertainty of what she would do next or where she would end up. 

Although Kitley said that she did not yet have plans for life after Tech, she did confess that after the injury, “any ideas of a plan went out the window.”

Not Her First ACL Rodeo

Liz Kitley is no stranger to knee injuries. She tore the ACL in her right knee when she was in high school and basically missed her entire senior season. As we know, she made a full recovery from that injury, earning ACC freshman of the year in her first season at Virginia Tech.

Initially after injuring her left knee, she thought the experiences of that first ACL tear would help her recover from this most recent setback.  However, she soon realized the folly in that way of thinking. 

Not all ACL tears are the same.  Not all recoveries are the same.  And Kitley had to return to a much higher level of basketball this time, plus she understood that her body was much different than it was at the first injury seven years ago.

She knew not to look back at her first ACL experience and generate any expectation because of it.  “I was only 16 when it happened,” she said.  “And I have a bad memory,” she joked.

However, with appropriate treatment and rehab, most ACL injuries can result in full recovery – statistics suggest success rates of 80-90%, which provided hope for Kitley.  “Knowing how many people go through this and continue on to have successful careers was encouraging,” she admitted.

Kitley, known for her grit and her strong work ethic, has also kept a very positive mindset when talking about the injury. “This is just a part of playing sports. It happens.  You’re either going to dwell on it or you’re going to get up and move on.”

“I try not to worry about the things that I can’t control and just focus on the positives”

Liz Kitley to ESPN's Holly Rowe immediately after being selected in the WNBA draft

The WNBA Dream Comes Closer to Fruition

Going into the WNBA draft, Kitley still felt confident that she would be selected, but with the injury, she did not know for sure. She attended the event in New York while still on crutches from her surgery, happy to be there and not concerned about who would take her and when. 

In reflecting on her actual selection, the 24th pick by the two-time defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, Kitley knew it was a great opportunity for her.  “It was more so the fit that was most important, it really had nothing to do with the number,” she said.  “And I feel like the fit, I got really lucky with that. I couldn’t have been happier.”

Shortly after the draft, she received a call from the organization’s director of health, who told the draftee that they were going to assume control of her rehab and take care of her. 

According to Kitley, this move to bring in an injured, unsigned rookie and rehab her was uncommon in past WNBA practice, so it had a positive effect on her outlook of her future.

“It was really cool to still feel valued,” she confessed.  “Obviously that was an investment they were going to put in me from the jump even though they knew I wouldn’t be able to do anything for them last season (in 2024).” 

She felt reassured, as the Aces showed that they viewed Kitley as a long-term investment, and by the end of April, she had packed up and relocated to Las Vegas.

The Long Road to Recovery

Rehabilitation from an ACL tear can be grueling, especially in the first twelve weeks.  It involves dedication to an individualized recovery plan that usually takes anywhere from six to twelve months to return to full sports participation. 

Knowing the uncertainly of the long road ahead, Kitley, who has always been a positive thinker, chose to take it day by day.  She focused on her daily workouts and on her physical therapy, looking at the short term instead of the year ahead of her.

Still, she admitted how difficult it was to endure something that took so long where everything happened so gradually. 

It was a slow process, and it was a challenge for such a high-level athlete who at first could not even load her own weights in her workouts!  But she remained positive, made incremental progress, and stayed true to the protocol.

"As somebody who's torn two ACLs, it is a process, and it's a journey, and I just want to commend you on your diligence, showing up every day ... putting in the sweat, and it's going to pay off big time” 

Aces coach Becky Hammon to Kitley at a recent team press conference

Looking back, Kitley shared that the challenge was more than just physical; it was also a scary and mentally arduous recovery, too.  It was made tougher, she confessed, by the isolation of being on her own for the first time in her life. 

She knows that the organization did their best to make her feel like she was part of something, but in her situation as a non-rostered athlete, there was a still a slight disconnect. 

She obviously could not practice nor did she travel with the Aces, and she had to watch a lot instead of actually play.  She encountered something for the first time since she was a child – the lack of camaraderie of being part of a team. 

Finding Comfort in Familiar Places

Adding to the feeling of isolation was the lack of a familiar support system nearby. Kitley had never been on her own so far from home before and it was a new experience of being so distant from family and friends.

The former Hokie did enjoy some visits though, and they were always uplifting.  Her parents came to Vegas once in June and her mother again in October, but they were busy with their own lives back home, over 2000 miles away in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Some of Kitley’s friends came to see her over the summer, as well - it wasn’t too difficult to coax them to come to the Adult Disneyland, she admitted – but overall, it was still quite an adjustment to be so independent. 

“It was a challenging experience, but I think it has made me a lot more independent in the long run,” she realized.  “I’ve always been independent, but I’ve always also had my parents near if I really needed them, and I didn’t have that, so that was an adjustment.”

Despite the new living situation, Kitley did have one familiar constant in her life: the much-appreciated, everyday support from her sister Raven, who most Tech fans remember from her time as a tremendous fan and supporter of Kitley during her run at Tech. 

Raven has been the most consistent communicator and supporter in Liz’s life.  “I wake up with a text from her every single morning,” Kitley appreciated.  “She asks me to call her every single day.” 

It was comforting for Kitley to know that “Raven would be dying to hop on a call from me and that I could always get that love and support from her.”

Number 33 is Retired

One rewarding break from her recovery came in the form of a return trip to Blacksburg.  On January 19, the Hokie legend made her way back to campus for an honor bestowed on only one other Tech women’s basketball player and just a handful of Virginia Tech athletes ever – her jersey would hang in the rafters of Cassell Coliseum.

The ceremony was a nice changeup for the Hokie legend. She had been alone for so long working so hard to recover from injury, pretty much in her own bubble since the previous April.  Then, for one weekend, Kitley was able to spend some time on the campus that has always meant so much to her.

“Being able to go back in January and celebrate my jersey retirement was a huge reminder of what I have done and what I accomplished, and the community that supports me there was really, really reassuring and comforting to me.”

NCAA March Madness
@MarchMadnessWBB

Liz Kitley gets her jersey retired in the rafters, as the most decorated player in @HokiesWBB history 👏💐 #NCAAWBB x 🎥 @accnetwork ht

Seeing her jersey hanging in the rafters was a source of pride and confidence. “Everything I did there will always be there, and that feels really good,” she said. 

In spending a rigorous year recovering from injury, one that has kept her out of the game that has been such a part of her daily life for so long, Kitley has lacked the opportunities for fulfillment that the sport gave her. In basketball, she had daily challenges, competitions, and achievements, all of which gave her tangible marks of success. 

“When you win a game, or when you’re playing in a game and you have ‘x’ amount of points, you can be proud of that,” she said. “And I haven’t had any of those super-tangible marks of success (this past year).” 

But going back for the ceremony gave her that encouragement and reassurance that has been absent lately.  Kitley is the most accomplished women’s basketball player in Tech history, and she was a fan favorite during her years at the school. This ceremony was a powerful reminder of that.

“It was really cool.  It was like my favorite day ever”

Liz Kitley on her jersey retirement ceremony

The Upcoming WNBA Season

On February 3rd, the wait was over. Kitley’s hard work paid off, as she finally realized her dream and signed a WNBA contract with the Las Vegas Aces. 

Obviously, there is a thrill of playing professionally, but for Kitley, she is just as excited to feel like she is part of a team again. “That’s such a special and unique experience that I miss a lot.”

After 13 months without competitive basketball, Kitley is looking forward to playing again.  Her main goal for this season is to get back on the court and stay healthy.  And, of course, she would like to help her team win a championship. 

That feat alone – just to play on a WNBA team – will be quite an accomplishment.  “My little childhood self would marvel at that,” she mused. 

Las Vegas Aces
@LVAces

OFFICIAL: The Las Vegas Aces have signed Elizabeth Kitley. The @HokiesWBB All-Time Leading Scorer and 3x ACC Player of the Year is officially an 𝗔𝗖𝗘. ♠️ ht

The former Hokie isn’t the only one excited about her return to the court.  The organization is looking forward to seeing their investment pay off.

“I am so excited to see what Elizabeth Kitley can do for the Aces in 2025,” Las Vegas Aces President Nikki Fargas said after Kitley signed her contract.

“After watching her progress through her injury and rehab this past year, seeing her work ethic and drive to return to the court gives us confidence in our selection of Liz in the 2024 draft. She had a phenomenal collegiate career, and we cannot wait to see her at the next level here in Las Vegas this year.”

I think it is safe to say that all of Hokie Nation is feeling this way too!

Las Vegas Aces
@LVAces

Consistency is 🔑 @elizabethkitley // #ALLINLV

Ready for the Next Step

Former Virginia Tech men’s basketball coach Bill Foster used to have a sign in his office that read, "The road to success is always under construction."  Always a hard worker, Liz Kitley is the embodiment of this saying.

However, her road to success took a detour this year, and although the path was bumpy, Kitley stayed positive and knows that she has grown as a result of her struggles.

Admitting that her injury caused her much initial stress about her future, she also knew that, given the circumstances, she ended up in the best situation possible when the Aces drafted her, and this taught her a valuable lesson:

“When something doesn’t go as planned or there’s a bump in the road,” Kitley said, “I can relax a little bit and have faith and hope that everything is going to work out.” 

“This experience has shown me that things are going to happen as they should and I’ll be ok regardless.”

And after a long, arduous year of recovery, Liz Kitley, with the heart of a lion and the drive of a champion, is nearing the light at the end of the tunnel.  She has faced her struggles head on, and she is ready to take that next step in her journey. 

She will finally play for a WNBA team. 

A queen.  With Aces.  In Vegas. That is quite a hand to be dealt!