Ayoka Lee to forgo WNBA Draft, move on from basketball

MANHATTAN, Kan. (KCTV) - One of the greatest players in K-State women’s basketball history is calling it a career.

After exhausting her collegiate eligibility, senior center Ayoka Lee announced on social media Thursday she will forego the WNBA Draft and move on from her basketball career.

“From these experiences I’ve learned that I am capable of more than I think I am but also that it’s important to listen to what your body whispers to you before it begins to scream at you,” Lee said in a statement shared on Instagram Thursday.

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“For this reason, I’ve decided to forgo the draft and explore this next season of life apart from basketball. I am so extremely thankful for all the support & love that I’ve felt from our fan base over the years and I am so excited to see what God has in store for me next,” Lee continued. “I am forever honored to be a Wildcat.”

Kansas State's Ayoka Lee, right, and Fairfield's Emina Selimovic (23) battle for a rebound in... — Kansas State's Ayoka Lee, right, and Fairfield's Emina Selimovic (23) battle for a rebound in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament in Lexington, Ky., Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/James Crisp)(James Crisp | AP)

Lee averaged 15.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game during her final season as a Wildcat. For her career, she averaged 18.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and was the school’s all-time leader in points (2,533), points per game, rebounds (1,262) and blocks (356).

She was a one-time consensus All-American, a five-time All-Big 12 selection and the 2019-20 Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Lee missed significant time this season due to a foot injury and battled injury throughout her career as a Wildcat. Her career ended in a Sweet 16 loss to