BLACKSBURG — The number 33 is now in the rafters of Cassell Coliseum.
Former Virginia Tech women's basketball star Elizabeth Kitley returned to Cassell on Sunday for her jersey retirement ceremony.
An emotional Kitley, who played for Tech from 2019-24, grinned and raised her hands to her mouth and chest when a banner bearing her name and her No. 33 jersey number dropped from the rafters.
A sellout crowd gave the former Hokies center a standing ovation when she walked onto the court for the brief ceremony, which was held at halftime of Tech's win over Louisville.
Former Virginia Tech star Elizabeth Kitley acknowledges the sellout crowd during her jersey retirement ceremony Sunday at Cassell Coliseum.
Kitley was joined on the court by athletic director Whit Babcock, who presented with a framed replica of her banner. She also was joined on the court by her parents. She hugged her parents at the end of the ceremony.
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She spoke briefly to the crowd.
"I just want to say thank you to everyone in this building right now for embracing not only me but my family," Kitley said in her speech. "We all appreciate it."
Kitley urged the fans to continue attending Tech women's basketball games.
"These girls are playing their butts off and they deserve you in the stands every single game," she said in her speech.
She promised the fans she would stick around after the game to sign autographs.
A banner bearing the name and No. 33 jersey number of former Virginia Tech star Elizabeth Kitley is dropped from the Cassell Coliseum rafters during Kitley's jersey retirement ceremony. The banner of the late Tech basketball great Renee Dennis is at right.
"I'll be here for hours and hours until we're done," she said in her speech.
Tech announced in April that Kitley’s jersey would be retired. Kitley became only the second Tech women’s basketball player to have her jersey retired. The late Renee Dennis’ jersey was retired in 1987.
"It just seemsÌý… like a lofty dream, I guess, that I never would have associated with myself," Kitley said Sunday in a pregame press conference. "It makes me really excited to bring my family back here for years and years to come because something so permanent is so, so special and not a lot of people get that. To feel like I had that much impact on the community and the program is really, really cool and I'm going to keep bringing people back here so I can show off a little."
In addition to her parents, Kitley was joined at Cassell by her siblings, cousins, friends, agents and ex-Hokies Cayla King and Olivia Summiel.
Kitley flew home Thursday from Las Vegas, where she has been undergoing rehab for the torn ACL she suffered last year. The Summerfield, North Carolina, native returned to her old high school Friday night for the retirement ceremony of her high school jersey.
"That's the only … banner that's in (Northwest Guilford High School's gym), so for them to take that big step and honor me in that way was really, really cool," Kitley said in the Sunday press conference.
Virginia Tech great Elizabeth Kitley, left, was presented with a framed replica of her banner by athletic director Whit Babcock, right, during her jersey retirement ceremony Sunday.
Kitley, King, Summiel and the current Hokies who played on last season's team received their 2023-24 ACC regular-season championship rings at a gathering in a Lane Stadium club Saturday night. That celebration also featured speeches honoring Kitley.
"I got to hear from Whit and Coach (Megan) Duffy and my parents and Cayla and Liv," Kitley said of Saturday night's banquet. "I got to speak a little bit as well. … It was really, really special because I haven't had all those people in the same room … ever in my life, so it made me feel really loved.
"And I got the ring. I had no idea that was happening. That was awesome. It's so shiny."
Former Virginia Tech players from left: Olivia Summiel, Elizabeth Kitley and Cayla King applaud at the conclusion of Tech's win over Louisville. Kitley's jersey was retired at halftime.
Two seasons ago, Kitley helped Tech win the ACC Tournament for the first time and reach the Final Four for the first time. Last year, she helped Tech win the ACC regular-season title for the first time.
Kitley was named an Associated Press second-team All-American last year, making her a three-time All-American. She also was named the ACC player of the year for the third time. She averaged 22.8 points and 11.4 rebounds as a graduate student last year. She owns the Tech career scoring record (2,709 points) and both the Tech and ACC career records for rebounds (1,506).
Kitley has not played in a game since early March of last year. She suffered a torn ACL in last year’s regular-season finale.
She was drafted by the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces last April. She has been living in Las Vegas since then.
Elizabeth Kitley bobblehead dolls were distributed to some fans after Sunday's game. Kitley's jersey was retired in a halftime ceremony.
She attended Aces practices and home games last season. She has gotten to know Aces star A'ja Wilson and the other players.
"My heart starts fluttering when I see her name in my phone," Kitley said at the press conference. "Being in a group chat with them is just ridiculous."
