Elizabeth Kitley Bio
Elizabeth Ann Kitley, born on September 17, 2001, in Summerfield, North Carolina, is an American professional basketball player. A 6-foot-6 center, she played college basketball at Virginia Tech, where she became the program’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Kitley was selected 24th overall by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2024 WNBA draft and is currently a free agent in the league.
Across her five seasons with the Virginia Tech Hokies, Kitley earned three ACC Player of the Year awards and multiple All-American honors, establishing herself as one of the most decorated players in conference history. Following her college career, she signed with the Aces and later appeared on the roster of the Golden State Valkyries. She is widely regarded as one of the top centers of her generation in women’s college basketball.
Early Life and Background
Elizabeth Ann Kitley was born on September 17, 2001, in Summerfield, North Carolina, and raised in a family with deep ties to the sport. Her father, Ralph Kitley, played professional basketball in Germany and Brazil after a college career at Wake Forest, and he later became a high school principal, teacher, and basketball coach. Growing up around the game, Kitley played basketball, softball, and volleyball, and by fifth grade she preferred softball above the others.
Before her freshman year at Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, Kitley shifted her focus to basketball, already standing 6-foot-2. As a sophomore, she led Northwest Guilford to its first state championship at the 4A tournament and was named the most valuable player of the title game. She helped her team win another state title during her junior season, repeating as MVP of the championship game.
Before her senior season, Kitley tore her anterior cruciate ligament during an Amateur Athletic Union game. After surgery, she was sidelined until the final two games of her final high school campaign. Rated a five-star recruit by ESPN, she committed to play for Virginia Tech under head coach Kenny Brooks, beginning her collegiate career in 2019.
Path to Basketball
Kitley’s path to basketball was shaped by her family background and her rapid physical growth. With a father who had played and coached at high levels, she had early access to structured coaching and a deep understanding of the game. Her decision to refocus on basketball before high school set the stage for her emergence as a dominant post player.
Her high school success, including two state titles and MVP honors in both championship games, drew national attention. The ACL injury she suffered before her senior year tested her resilience, but she recovered in time to finish her high school career. By the time she enrolled at Virginia Tech, she was regarded as one of the top centers in her recruiting class.
At Virginia Tech, Kitley joined a program that would develop her into a national star. Playing under Kenny Brooks, she worked her way into the starting lineup as a freshman and never looked back, eventually rewriting the school’s record books across multiple statistical categories.
Elizabeth Kitley Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
Kitley made her collegiate debut on November 5, 2019, and scored a season-high 27 points on 13-of-15 shooting in a 105–41 win over Saint Francis. Her debut total set a Virginia Tech record for most points by a freshman in a first game. As a freshman, she averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, earning ACC Freshman of the Year and ACC All-Freshman Team honors.
During her sophomore season, Kitley posted a 30-point, 11-rebound performance in a win against Appalachian State, and she tied the program single-game record with 21 rebounds against Wake Forest. She finished the year averaging 18.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, earning first-team All-ACC recognition and establishing herself as one of the top post players in the conference.
Virginia Tech Breakthrough (2021–2024)
In her junior year, Kitley delivered a 34-point, nine-rebound performance against George Washington, making a program-record 17 field goals. She later set the Virginia Tech single-game scoring record with 42 points in an NCAA tournament loss to Florida Gulf Coast. As a junior, she averaged 18.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, earning ACC Player of the Year, third-team All-American honors from the AP and USBWA, and WBCA All-America recognition.
As a senior, Kitley set the Virginia Tech career scoring record with a buzzer-beating shot against North Carolina and led the Hokies to their first Final Four in program history. 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, while repeating as ACC Player of the Year and earning second-team All-American honors.
Returning for a fifth year of eligibility granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kitley completed her Bachelor of Science in human nutrition with concentrations in foods and exercise, graduating summa cum laude. During her final season, she became the ACC all-time leader in rebounds and earned her third ACC Player of the Year award, the fifth player in conference history to accomplish that feat. On March 3, 2024, she suffered an ACL injury in her left leg during the regular season finale against Virginia, ending her collegiate career.
Las Vegas Aces Era (2024–2025)
On April 15, 2024, the Las Vegas Aces selected Kitley with the 24th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. Due to her ACL injury, the Aces suspended her contract and reserved her rights while allowing her to use their facilities for recovery. On February 3, 2025, Kitley signed her rookie contract with the Aces.
On June 30, 2025, Kitley was waived by the Las Vegas Aces. The Golden State Valkyries then signed her to a seven-day hardship contract on September 3, 2025. Kitley was officially part of the Valkyries roster for two games but did not play in either, and she was waived on September 8, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Kitley’s signature moments came when she set the Virginia Tech single-game scoring record with 42 points in an NCAA tournament game against Florida Gulf Coast. She also hit a game-winning buzzer-beater to set the program’s career scoring record and led the Hokies to their first Final Four. On January 19, 2025, Virginia Tech formally retired her No. 33 jersey at Cassell Coliseum, making it the first jersey retired by the Hokies women’s basketball program in the 21st century.
Elizabeth Kitley Career Wins
During her five seasons at Virginia Tech, Elizabeth Kitley earned three ACC Player of the Year awards, four first-team All-ACC selections, and three ACC All-Defensive Team honors. She was named a WBCA Coaches’ All-American three times and earned second-team All-American recognition from the AP and USBWA in both 2023 and 2024, with a third-team nod in 2022. Kitley also led Northwest Guilford to two North Carolina 4A state championships in high school, earning MVP honors in both title games.
College Highlights
Kitley finished her Virginia Tech career as the program’s all-time leader in games started, minutes played, points scored, field-goal percentage, field goals made, double-doubles, rebounds, and blocks. Her 42-point performance against Florida Gulf Coast stands as the Virginia Tech single-game scoring record, and she is the ACC all-time leader in rebounds. She finished her career with three ACC Player of the Year awards, joining a short list of players to win the honor three times.
Other Wins and Performances
At Northwest Guilford High School, Kitley led her team to back-to-back North Carolina 4A state championships in 2017 and 2018, earning MVP honors in both title games. She was also named ACC Rookie of the Year in 2020, beginning a run of conference accolades that lasted through her final season.
Elizabeth Kitley Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs in Elizabeth Kitley’s family. Her father, Ralph Kitley, played college basketball at Wake Forest before playing professionally in Germany and Brazil. He later transitioned into education, working as a high school principal, teacher, and basketball coach. His experience in the sport helped shape Elizabeth’s early development and lifelong passion for the game.
Personal Life
Elizabeth Kitley was born and raised in Summerfield, North Carolina, and attended Northwest Guilford High School in nearby Greensboro. She completed her Bachelor of Science in human nutrition at Virginia Tech, graduating summa cum laude after the spring 2023 semester.
2025 Season Performance
Elizabeth Kitley’s 2025 professional season began when she signed her rookie contract with the Las Vegas Aces on February 3, 2025, after recovering from the ACL injury that ended her college career. Her time with the Aces was brief, as the team waived her on June 30, 2025, leaving her as a free agent in the WNBA.
Kitley found a brief landing spot when the Golden State Valkyries signed her to a seven-day hardship contract on September 3, 2025. She was officially part of the roster for two games but did not appear in either contest, and the Valkyries waived her on September 8, 2025. Her 2025 campaign was defined more by recovery and movement between rosters than by on-court production.
Looking ahead, Kitley remains a free agent as she continues her comeback from injury. Her combination of size, scoring touch, and rebounding ability makes her an intriguing prospect for WNBA teams seeking frontcourt depth. With her health restored, she will be looking to establish herself at the professional level in the seasons to come.