One of the most accomplished athletes in college basketball is stepping away from the sport.
Ayoka Lee, a former standout at Byron and star center for Kansas State women’s basketball, announced on social media Thursday that she will not be entering the WNBA draft and is ready to move on from basketball.
“I’ve realized I’m capable of more than I imagined,” Lee shared. “But I’ve also learned to pay attention to my body’s quiet signals before they become too loud to ignore. Because of that, I’ve chosen to step away from pursuing a professional basketball career and begin a new chapter beyond the game.”
Throughout her college career, Lee battled numerous injuries, including missing two full seasons due to knee issues. Despite the setbacks, she concluded her time at K-State as one of the program’s all-time greats.
Lee leaves behind a legacy as Kansas State’s all-time leader in both points (2,533) and rebounds (1,262), and she became just the third player in Big 12 history to surpass 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 300 blocks. A three-time Associated Press All-American, she remains the only player in program history with three or more seasons of 75+ blocks. Her average of 2.62 blocks per game stands as the highest in school history.
She helped guide the Wildcats to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 berth this season. She earned national recognition along the way, including setting a single-game scoring record with 61 points. Despite missing 14 games this year due to foot injuries, her impact remained significant.
Lee now plans to focus on using her master’s degree in couple and family therapy.
“I can’t truly put into words how faithful God has been to me over these past seven years,” she wrote. “I’m so grateful He led me to K-State. Although the journey was filled with challenges, doubts, and injuries that tested me, I wouldn’t trade it.”
