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The jersey of the greatest player in Virginia Tech women's basketball history will hang from the rafters at Cassell Coliseum.
Virginia Tech announced during Saturday's spring football game that Elizabeth Kitley's No. 33 uniform will be retired for an undetermined game in the 2024-25 season.
Kitley was not at the game, but she made the announcement herself in a video played on the Lane Stadium videoboard. The graduate student taped the announcement Friday at the Tech University basketball practice facility, as he was scheduled to fly to New York on Saturday for Monday's WNBA Draft.
Kitley, who played five seasons with the Hokies, becomes the second Tech women's basketball player to have her jersey retired. The late Renee Dennis' jersey was retired in 1987, making Dennis the first female Tech athlete to receive her honor.
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Kitley becomes the fourth Tech female athlete to have her jersey retired, joining Dennis, Lisa Pickarek (volleyball) and Angela Tincher (softball).
Kitley was named to the Associated Press All-American Second Team this year. She was also named to the All-American AP Second Team last year and to the Third Team two years ago. She was named an AP All-American three times, the first in program history. When she was selected to the third team in 2022, she became the first Tech women's basketball player to be selected to the AP All-American first, second and third teams.
Kitley averaged 22.8 points this year, breaking the school's single-season record for points per game. She made 278 baskets this season, her school record.
“I had a good and productive year last year, but this year my role increased and I think I fulfilled that role pretty well,” she said in an interview Friday.
The 6-foot-6 center is a three-time ACC Player of the Year and a three-time ACC Scholarship Player of the Year.
Kitley holds the Tech career scoring record (2,709 points) and both the Tech and ACC career rebounding record (1,506 points). She also owns the Tech and ACC career marks for double-doubles (76).
She also owns the school's career scores for blocks (331), starts (151), minutes played (4,935), baskets (1,109), and field goal percentage (52.2%).
In 2023, she helped Tech to its first ACC Tournament win and first Final Four appearance. This year, she helped Tech win its first ACC regular season title.
“Elizabeth's impact on Virginia Tech and women's basketball goes beyond statistics,” Athletic Director Whit Babcock said in a news release. “Her passion, work ethic and character left a lasting legacy that inspires future generations. Retiring her jersey honors the legacy she left in the hearts of our women's basketball program and the Hokie Nation.” It is a symbol of our gratitude for the footprints we left behind.”