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The former Virginia Tech star played in both of the Las Vegas Aces鈥� preseason games this month, marking her first game action since she suffered a torn ACL while playing for Tech against Virginia on March 3, 2024.

The WNBA rookie played five minutes off the bench in a May 2 preseason win over Dallas. Her workload off the bench increased to 10 minutes in Tuesday鈥檚 preseason win over Phoenix.

鈥淭hese preseason games were mainly about me getting my feet wet,鈥� Kitley said Thursday on an Aces video conference during the Aces鈥� media day. 鈥淚 hadn鈥檛 played in a game in 14 months, so to have any opportunity to get up and down the court was really amazing for me. I鈥檓 really proud of myself for getting to that point.

鈥淚 feel very lucky for the opportunity that I have.鈥�

The center does not feel like her old self on the court just yet.

鈥淭hat would be insane if I felt like my old self out there after not playing for 14 months and having serious knee surgery, so no,鈥� Kitley said with a laugh. 鈥淏ut I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 expected or realistic. I think I would be way too hard on myself if that鈥檚 what I had expected for myself. I鈥檓 proud of myself for getting to the point to be able to play and eventually that鈥檒l all come back. But it鈥檚 just going to take time.鈥�

Kitley is Virginia Tech鈥檚 all-time leading scorer. But now she is a WNBA rookie. She did not attempt a shot in her first preseason game and attempted only one shot in Tuesday鈥檚 game.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 not a struggle for me, honestly,鈥� she said with a chuckle. 鈥淎 lot of people might maybe have a hard time with that, but 鈥� even when I was at Tech, it was never about, 鈥業 need to take this many shots.鈥� It was just, 鈥榃hat are we going to do to win?鈥� And if that had me taking 30 shots, I took 30 shots. If that had me taking four, then I鈥檒l take four.

鈥淏ut that鈥檚 really never been the point of emphasis.鈥�

Kitley did block a shot Tuesday, electrifying the Aces鈥� bench but initially prompting a ho-hum reaction from Kitley.

鈥淥ne of my old teammates from college sent (the video) to me and she鈥檚 like, 鈥淢an, this gave me PTSD.鈥� Because she used to try to get me to scream or hype up after something like that, but I鈥檓 just very stoic. So it was funny that that was my reaction. But then 鈥� seeing hyped teammates, I had to crack at least a little smile.鈥�

Kitley also had one rebound and one steal Tuesday. The three-time All-American did not score in either of the Aces鈥� preseason games.

鈥淪he鈥檚 still working her way back from a major injury,鈥� Aces coach Becky Hammon said Thursday on a WNBA video conference. 鈥淪he鈥檚 getting 鈥� her legs underneath her. 鈥� The last game she played in, she was a college senior over a year ago. So we are in no rush with her. However, we do want to move her along in a good way.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to just see continued growth. Having gone through an ACL, you really don鈥檛 feel (like) yourself till probably 14-15 months post-operation. So by July and August I鈥檓 thinking she鈥檚 going to look pretty darn good out there.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just kind of amping her up slowly and we鈥檙e still obviously monitoring her and don鈥檛 want to put too much on her. But she鈥檚 been great in training camp. She鈥檚 been a sponge. 鈥� She鈥檚 learning our system.

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of a whole new world for her right now because 鈥� it鈥檚 tough being injured, especially as a rookie.鈥�

The Aces chose the three-time ACC player of the year with the final pick of the second round of the 2024 draft. Kitley moved to Las Vegas after the draft so she could undergo rehab at the Aces鈥� facility under the supervision of the Aces鈥� trainers. She attended Aces practices and home games last season. But under WNBA rules, the Aces could not sign Kitley last year because she was injured. She was finally able to sign with the team three months ago.

鈥淚t was really tough to sit out for a year, and obviously that鈥檚 going to come with some rustiness,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I also feel very lucky to have been able to watch the pros that I was able to be around for the last year and also to have their support was really amazing. 鈥� Being able to just even watch them and be around them at all for a year was 鈥� a lesson that 鈥� no other rookies, really, get to have.鈥�

The Aces will open the regular season on May 17 at New York.

Will Kitley play in that game?

鈥淲e鈥檒l see,鈥� Hammon said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 going to be pretty damn good come July. But there鈥檚 a process to coming back. You don鈥檛 just jump out with the best in the world and make it happen. 鈥� This would be considered her rookie year. 鈥� I want to put her in spots to be successful. It might be in New York when we go there, it might not.鈥�

One of Kitley鈥檚 former Tech teammates, Georgia Amoore, was chosen by the Washington Mystics in the first round of this year鈥檚 draft. But Amoore suffered an ACL injury in practice last week.

鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of her and so happy that she was able to go to a fun place like D.C.,鈥� Kitley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unfortunate that she suffered an ACL tear as well. But I have no doubt in my mind that she鈥檒l be back stronger than ever. And if anyone can handle that situation, it鈥檚 her.鈥�

Amoore will no doubt have to sit out the entire WNBA season, just like Kitley had to last year.

鈥淚 definitely reached out to her after (Amoore got hurt),鈥� Kitley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 honestly insane how similar our situations are going to be. But I think she鈥檚 happy and feels like she鈥檚 in a good place with Washington and they鈥檙e going to take care of her and she鈥檒l be just fine.鈥�