LSU’s Ayana Mitchell out for the season
Lady Tiger great’s career ends prematurely
Ayana Mitchell is out for the season after suffering a knee injury over the weekend, LSU announced Wednesday.
The senior forward went down in the second quarter of Sunday’s game against Texas A&M and was taken off the court in a wheelchair. Despite an Aggies rally, the Lady Tigers held on for the 59-58 win.
More from NCAA
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, April 6: Stanford defeats Arizona in a tightly contested matchup to win the national title
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 30: UConn and Baylor deliver a classic battle of storied programs
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 26: Louisville and Texas A&M survive and advance
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 23: Highlights from the first round of the NCAA Tournament
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, March 16: Tournament bracket released
Mitchell was the team’s second-leading scorer at 13.7 points per game on a team-best 67.9 percent shooting, and its leading rebounder at 8.9 boards per game.
“We are extremely sad with the loss of Ayana, but the legacy she has left for this program is unmeasurable,” said LSU head coach Nikki Fargas.
In her career, Mitchell amassed 911 rebounds — the sixth-most in school history — and ranks third all-time in field goal percentage. She finishes as LSU’s No. 22 all-time scorer and was the 33rd player to reach 1,000 career points.
“We look forward to her recovery and the next chapter that awaits her,” Fargas said.
Fargas told the Advocate on Tuesday she was “hopeful” Mitchell would be able to return to the team this season, citing her toughness as she battled other injuries.
Mitchell’s career began with season-ending back surgery after she appeared in just three games. She received a medical hardship waiver to maintain her first year of eligibility.
“I just want to thank all of the fans for their thoughts and prayers during this time,” Mitchell said. “I know God has a plan for me in all of this and my faith will keep me going.”
Love our 24/7 women’s basketball coverage? Join our Patreon now and support this work, while getting extra goodies and subscriber-only content for yourself.