Kansas State Wildcats share unfortunate injury update on star center Ayoka Lee
For the first time all season, the Kansas State women’s basketball team is dealing with bad news.
Ayoka Lee, the senior center who is averaging 20.3 points and 8.2 rebounds for the Wildcats, will be sidelined for around four weeks while she recovers from an ankle injury.
That will make the next few games interesting for the No. 7 Wildcats who are off to a 17-1 start and in first place of the Big 12 standings at 6-0. Lee is their star player and an All-American. She is one of the best centers in the entire country. The Wildcats play through her on both ends of the court.
K-State announced the injury news on Friday, a day before it hosts rival Kansas at 1 p.m. inside Bramlage Coliseum.
Fans have been concerned about Lee since she was seen playing with a noticeable limp over the past week. Earlier this week, she was spotted leaving practice in a medical boot. Head coach Jeff Mittie said the injury came about when she was kicked in the ankle during a game against Oklahoma. Lee had been dealing with soreness every since.
Mittie said he expected Lee to be fine. But when pain persisted in her ankle a MRI revealed a fracture. Lee had successful surgery to repair the injury on Friday and is expected to return to the court in roughly four weeks.
If that timetable holds, Lee could return for a home game against West Virginia on February 21, which would allow her to play in the final four contests of the regular season and then the Big 12 Tournament followed by March Madness.
Lee will miss key upcoming games against Baylor, Texas and Iowa State in addition to this weekend’s game against KU.
This is not the first time Lee has missed action with injuries. She was injured as a freshman and sat out that entire season with a knee injury and also missed all of last season.
The Wildcats know how to play without her in the lineup, so perhaps they won’t have to make a big adjustment as she watches from the sidelines. But K-State will hope she recovers soon and is able to help the Wildcats keep their magical season going.