K-State earns 5 seed in women’s March Madness

MANHATTAN, Kan. (KCTV) - Jeff Mittie and the Kansas State Wildcats are dancing in March again.

For the sixth time in Mittie’s 12 seasons in Manhattan, the Wildcats are in the NCAA Tournament. This time, they are a 5-seed. They reach March Madness with a 26-7 record that included a 13-5 mark against Big 12 opponents.

THE MATCHUP

The Wildcats will open NCAA Tournament play against No. 12 seed Fairfield. The game will be played in Spokane on March 21.

The K-State Wildcats and West Virginia Mountaineers compete during the Phillips 66 Big 12... — The K-State Wildcats and West Virginia Mountaineers compete during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Chapionship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri on March 7, 2025. (Denny Medley\Big 12 Conference)(Denny Medley\Big 12 Conference | Denny Medley\Big 12 Conference)

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Kansas State was the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 and for a large portion of the season looked destined to fulfill on that promise. The only loss for K-State in non-conference play was on a neutral floor against Duke.

All-American center Ayoka Lee and the Wildcats were 17-1 after a Jan. 19 win over Arizona State.

That game was the beginning of an absence for Lee due to a foot injury. Lee missed all but one game the remainder of the season for the Wildcats. As a result, K-State went 9-6 in their final 15 games of the regular season and Big 12 tournament, getting just five minutes of action from Lee in a win over Kansas on Feb. 22.

Without their All-American, K-State did win its biggest game of the season, a Feb. 5 matchup with No. 9 TCU. Despite beating Big 12 Player of the Year Hailey Van Lith and the Horned Frogs, TCU still won the Big 12′s regular season and conference tournament titles.

The preseason favorite Wildcats lost three of their final four games in the regular season and all three of the losses were by double figures. KSU lost to West Virginia by 13, Baylor by 17, and Iowa State by 22 to close the regular season.

Because of the late regular season stumble, K-State entered the Big 12 Tournament as the 5 seed. The Wildcats defeated UCF 80-65 in the second round and then lost to West Virginia, 73-69, in the quarterfinals.

K-State officials told On3 that Lee is expected to play in the NCAA Tournament.

The Kansas State Wildcats and UCF Knights compete during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s... — The Kansas State Wildcats and UCF Knights compete during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Women’s Basketball Chapionship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri on March 6, 2025. (Denny Medley\Big 12 Conference)(Denny Medley\Big 12 Conference | Denny Medley\Big 12 Conference)

WHO TO WATCH

When All-Big 12 selections were announced at the conclusion of the regular season, K-State had five representatives -- a first in school history.

Senior center Ayoka Lee would’ve been a presumable First Team selection if not for injury, but was instead an All-Big 12 Second Team selection after only playing in 19 games. In that time, she averaged 15.5 points per game.

Senior guard Serena Sundell, a Maryville, Missouri, native, averaged 13.5 points and a Big 12 leading 7.1 assists per game en route to an All-Big 12 First Team selection.

On the Big 12′s Third Team was senior forward Temira Poindexter, who averaged 12.7 points per game. Senior guard Jaelyn Glenn was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and sophomore guard Zyanna Walker was named to the All-Big 12 Defensive Team.

#12 K-State at #22 Utah(Reece Bachta Photography/K-State Athletics)

WHAT’S AT STAKE

K-State has not made the second weekend in the women’s tournament since the 2001-02 season, when the Wildcats reached the Sweet 16.

With a win in the opening round, K-State would have 27 wins, the most under Jeff Mittie in his time in Manhattan and most for the program since a 29-win season in 2002-03.