Manhattan, Kansas, is a different kind of town on game days. If you've ever stood outside Bramlage Coliseum—the "Octagon of Doom"—when the wind is whipping across the flint hills, you know that sound. It’s a low hum of purple-clad fans who don’t just show up; they expect a certain brand of grit. For years, that grit was synonymous with one name: Ayoka Lee.
But here’s the thing. Lee is gone. The 6-foot-7 tower who once dropped 61 points in a single game and grabbed 1,262 career rebounds has finally moved on, leaving a massive, literal hole in the paint.
A lot of people thought k state women basketball would just crumble without her. They figured Jeff Mittie’s squad would slide into the bottom half of the Big 12 and stay there. Honestly? They were half right. The 2025-26 season hasn't been a cakewalk. As of mid-January 2026, the Wildcats sit at 9-9. That .500 record might look mediocre on paper, but if you actually watch the games, you’ll see a team that is fundamentally rewriting how it plays basketball.
The Jeff Mittie Survival Guide: Life After a Legend
Jeff Mittie is a realist. He’s been coaching for over 30 years and has over 600 wins. He knew you don't just replace a player who holds the NCAA Division I record for points in a single game. Instead of trying to find "the next Ayoka," he went the other way. He went small. Well, smaller.
The Wildcats are currently 10th in the Big 12 standings. It sounds rough, especially with Texas Tech and TCU tearing through the league at 19-0 and 17-1 respectively. But K-State is playing one of the toughest schedules in the country. Their Strength of Schedule (SOS) is ranked 13th nationally. They aren't losing because they're bad; they’re losing because they’re playing a gauntlet with a roster that’s still figuring out its identity.
- The Guard-Heavy Pivot: Without a dominant center to lob the ball to, the offense has shifted to the perimeter.
- Speed Over Size: They’re forcing more turnovers—roughly 16.8 per game from opponents.
- The "Close Game" Curse: They’ve played eight games decided by five points or fewer. They’ve split them 4-4. A couple of bounces the other way and this team is 11-7 and looking at a tournament lock.
Who is Stepping Up? (Hint: It’s the Internationals)
If you haven't been paying attention to the roster, the names have changed. Tess Heal, the senior guard by way of Melbourne, Australia, has become the heartbeat of this team. She’s not 6-7, but she’s crafty. In a recent heartbreaker against West Virginia, Heal poured in 16 points and grabbed three steals. She’s the one Mittie trusts with the ball when the clock is winding down.
Then there’s Nastja Claessens. The junior forward from Belgium is basically the Swiss Army knife of the Big 12. She’s averaging double digits (around 11.3 PPG) and shooting an efficient 43% from the floor. She doesn't just sit in the post; she can step out and hit the three, which is something K-State fans haven't seen from their primary forwards in a long time.
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The New Blood in Manhattan
Mittie hasn't stopped recruiting. In December 2025, he added Ivona Scekic, a 6-3 center from Slovenia. She’s fresh off the FIBA U20 EuroBasket and provides that much-needed length. She’s still adjusting to the physicality of the American game, but the potential is clearly there.
We also have to talk about Taryn Sides. The Phillipsburg native is a local hero for a reason. She recently became the 22nd player in program history to reach 250 career assists. She’s small, she’s quick, and she plays with the kind of "EMAW" chip on her shoulder that defines the program.
Why Bramlage Still Matters
You might think attendance would dip without a superstar like Lee. Nope.
In December 2025, during an "Education Day" game against San Diego State, Bramlage was packed with 3,400 elementary schoolers. They did something called the "6-7 cam"—a viral trend where everyone holds their hands up to mimic Ayoka Lee's height. It was a bit bittersweet, but it showed that the community is still all-in.
K-State’s all-time home record is 417-160. That is a 72% win rate. Even in a "rebuilding" year, you do not want to play in Manhattan. The Wildcats just blew out Cincinnati 79-52 at the end of December, using a 28-6 third-quarter run to basically end the game before the fourth quarter even started. When the press is working and the crowd is loud, they can still run teams out of the gym.
The Big 12 Gauntlet: A Reality Check
Let’s be real for a second. The Big 12 in 2026 is a nightmare.
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Texas Tech is undefeated. TCU is a powerhouse. West Virginia has a defense that feels like being trapped in a phone booth with a swarm of bees. For k state women basketball to make the NCAA Tournament this year, they basically have to go .500 in conference play.
Right now, they’re 2-3 in the Big 12. They have a massive opportunity coming up with games against Utah, Texas Tech, and a Sunflower Showdown against Kansas on January 25th. That Kansas game is the one everyone has circled. The Jayhawks are also struggling at 1-5 in the conference, making this a "must-win" for both sides if they want to stay relevant in the postseason conversation.
Comparing the Numbers
| Category | K-State (2026) | Big 12 Average |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 70.2 | 73.4 |
| Opponent PPG | 64.7 | 62.1 |
| Field Goal % | 43.2% | 45.1% |
| Turnovers Forced | 16.8 | 15.5 |
The stats show a team that is elite at forcing mistakes but struggles to finish at the rim compared to the top-tier programs. They are missing that "guaranteed bucket" in the paint. When the outside shots aren't falling, things get ugly fast.
Misconceptions About This Team
"They’re just waiting for next year."
Wrong. Mittie is coaching like every game is a play-in game. He’s been vocal about the "close game" losses, frustrated that the team hasn't learned to close out the final two minutes. This isn't a "throwaway" season; it's a bridge season.
"The defense is worse without Lee."
Actually, it’s just different. Lee was a rim protector. Now, the defense is based on disruption. Jenessa Cotton, the sophomore forward, has been anchoring the interior and recently put up a career-high three blocks. They aren't as tall, but they are much faster laterally.
"Recruiting is slowing down."
If anything, it’s going global. Mittie has realized that Manhattan can be a destination for top European talent who want to play in a pro-style system. Between Claessens, Heal (Australia), and Scekic, the roster looks more like a FIBA lineup than a traditional midwestern squad.
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What’s Next for the Wildcats?
If you're a fan or a bettor looking at this team, don't let the 9-9 record fool you. They are battle-tested. Most teams would have folded after losing a generational talent like Ayoka Lee, but K-State is scrappy.
To turn the season around, they need to do three things:
- Find a secondary scorer: Tess Heal can't do it all. Jordan Speiser has shown flashes of being a knockdown shooter (hitting four threes against WVU), but she needs to do it consistently.
- Win at home: They’ve already dropped five games at Bramlage this season. That’s unheard of for this program. They have to protect their court.
- Clean up the turnovers: They're averaging 15.3 turnovers a game. In a high-possession game, that's giving away 15 points.
The path to the 2026 NCAA Tournament is narrow, but it's there. They have the coaching, they have the experience in close games, and they have a fan base that won't let them quit.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the local TV listings for the Sunflower Showdown on January 25th; it’s going to be a sellout.
- Keep an eye on the freshman development of Ivona Scekic—her minutes are expected to double by February as she gets into game shape.
- Track the Big 12 "bubble" standings. K-State is currently on the outside looking in, but a three-game win streak in late January could change the math entirely.
The era of the dominant center is over in Manhattan. The era of the "Positionless Wildcat" has officially begun. It’s messier, it’s faster, and it’s a lot more unpredictable.