The Las Vegas Aces drafted Elizabeth Kitley with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, but she spent the entire season recovering from a torn ACL. Kitley suffered the injury at the end of her senior season at Virginia Tech, a program she left as the all-time scoring leader.
Kitley didn't participate in team workouts last year but utilized the organization's facilities and medical staff. After spending the 2024 season rehabbing, Kitley signed her rookie-scale contract with the Aces in February. She released a statement acknowledging how hard 2024 was for her, but she said that she's "grateful" to be in Las Vegas and is ready to "get to work."
Las Vegas lost key players over the offseason — Kelsey Plum (Sparks), Alysha Clark (Storm), Tiffany Haynes (Valkyries), and Sydney Colson (Fever). The Aces' roster is still championship-worthy with three-time WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson. They certainly looked good in the preseason, something Kitley got to be part of.
She participated in her first full practice on April 27 since tearing her ACL. A few days later, she made her long-awaited Aces preseason debut. Kitley played five minutes in the win over Dallas and 10 in the win over Phoenix. She said at Media Day that those two games were about her "getting her feet wet" after not playing in a game in 14 months.
It will take a while for Kitley to start to feel like her old self, but that's expected. Las Vegas knew what the process would look like when it drafted her. The Aces also know that Kitley was worth the wait.
Elizabeth Kitley can make a big impact in her rookie season with Aces
Head coach Becky Hammon said she expects Kitley to be able to play with no restrictions in June or July. The six-foot-six forward is a much-needed boost to the Aces' frontcourt depth. The rookie is at an advantage, playing in a system that fits her strengths and learning from the best player in the league.
Kitley is still easing into things, but the more time she spends on the court, the more comfortable she'll feel. Her production should increase as the season wears on, so much so that she could play a key role in what the Aces hope will be another title run.
The 23-year-old would've never been on the board in the second round of last year's draft if she hadn't torn her ACL. Kitley would've been one of the first players off the board. The timing of the injury couldn't have been more unfortunate for Kitley, but things tend to have a way of working out in the end.