In a tough break for Jeff Mittie and the Kansas State Wildcats, senior forward Ayoka Lee is expected to miss some time after suffering an injury against Arizona State.
Lee was dealing with some health issues to start the season off and had been playing a career-low 19.5 minutes per game to avoid overexerting herself and risking further injury.
Lee departed the contest vs. Arizona State with roughly two minutes to play in the first half. At the time of her departure, she left the court with seven points and one rebound.
Following the win over the Sun Devils, Mittie provided an update on Lee’s status, saying, “It’s not good, guys. I don’t have a definitive update, but it’s not going to be a week or two.”
During her five-year career in Manhattan, Lee has been one of the nation’s best women’s college basketball players. She averages a near double-double in 131 career games played, with 18.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game on 60.46% shooting from the field.
On Monday, fans received official word on Lee’s status in a release from Kansas State, announcing that Lee has suffered a fracture in her foot.
“K-State senior center Ayoka Lee will be sidelined following an injury to her foot,” the release stated. “A return before the end of the season is probable, but more will be known in the next couple of weeks. Lee suffered the setback during game action on Sunday against Arizona State. An X-ray was conducted on Sunday and a precautionary MRI taken on Monday confirmed the fracture.”
She has played an integral part in her team’s success this season as Lee has helped the Wildcats to a No. 11 rank nationally and an 18-1 overall record. She leads the Wildcats in points, rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage in 2024-25.
In his absence, junior forward Eliza Maupin performed admirably, clashing with Arizona State’s Navaeh Parkinson on the low block. Maupin, a native of Webster Groves, Missouri, averages 4.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in 12.2 minutes per game. She finished off the 81-69 win with six points, five rebounds, and three assists in 22 minutes played.
No. 11 Kansas State advanced to 19-1 (7-0 in Big 12) with the win over ASU.
