MANHATTAN, Kan. – For the fourth time in her career, K-State senior center Ayoka Lee has been named to the Los Angeles Athletic Club John R. Wooden Award, presented by Principal, Preseason Women’s Top 50 Watch List.
Lee was previously named to the Wooden Award Watch List in the 2021, 2022 and 2024 seasons. The product of Byron, Minnesota, was named to the Wood Award National Ballot in the 2022 and 2024 seasons.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2025 John R. Wooden Award® Women’s Player of the Year. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award®. Wooden Award™ voters will rank in order 10 of those 15 players when voting opens prior to the NCAA Tournament and will allow voters to take into consideration performance during the tournament’s early round games. The Wooden Award All-American Team™ will be announced the week of the “Elite Eight” round of the NCAA Tournament. The winner of the 2025 John R. Wooden Award®, presented by Principal, will be presented at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 11, 2025.
Lee adds Thursday’s recognition to her preseason haul of honors which includes: Associated Press All-America honorable mention selection, preseason All-America Second Team honors from The Athletic, selection to the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Women’s Player of the Year Watch List, 2024-25 Lisa Leslie Award Watch List and being named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year by the league’s coaches and her unanimous selection to the preseason All-Big 12 team.
During the 2023-24 season, Lee was a Second Team All-America selection by The Athletic, a Third Team All-America honoree by The Sporting News, an honorable mention Associated Press All-American, an honorable mention WBCA All-American, a 2024 John R. Wooden Award National Ballot top-15 candidate, an All-Big 12 First Team selection, a Big 12 All-Defensive Team member and Big 12 All-Tournament Team recipient.
In her career, Lee ranks third in school history for points scored with 2,201, holds the school record for career scoring average at 19.1, owns the school record for career rebounds with 1,122, holds the school record for career rebounding average at 9.8, the school record holder for career blocks with 312 and blocks per game at 2.71 and owns the school record for career double-doubles with 60. She is the first player in program history with 300 or more career blocks and 100 or more career steals.
K-State women’s basketball season tickets are available now. Prices start at just $75 with a Wildcat 4-Pack to see every game in Bramlage. Order now by visiting kstatesports.com/tickets or calling 1-800-221-CATS.
K-State, ranked 13th in the preseason Associated Press and USA Today/WBCA Coaches polls, opens returns to action tonight at 6:30 p.m., as the Wildcats host Belmont. For tickets, visit kstatesports.com/tickets or call (800) 221-CATS.