Kelly, James, Rivers make All-ACC women's first-team; Kitley is player of the year

By AP

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley has become the third player in Atlantic Coast Conference history to be named league player of the year for three straight seasons.

The 6-foot-6 graduate was selected as the league's top player in awards announced Tuesday, the day before the start of the league tournament.

North Carolina senior guard Deja Kelly and NC State junior guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers were named to the 10-member All-ACC first team. North Carolina senior Alyssa Ustby and Duke junior Reigan Richardson made the second team. Rivers also made the all-defensive team.

Other individual award winners included Notre Dame freshman Hannah Hidalgo, who was named the league rookie and defensive player of the year, while Felisha Legette-Jack of No. 20 Syracuse was named the top coach.

Kitley — whose status is in question due to an apparent knee injury — joins Duke's Alana Beard (2002-04) and Maryland's Alyssa Thomas (2012-14) as the only players to win the award for three straight years.

Duke's Oluchi Okananwa earned sixth player of the year and Pittsburgh's Liatu King was most improved.

Kitley headlined the 10-player all-ACC first team, joining Hildalgo, Dyaisha Fair, Virginia Tech teammate Georgia Amoore and Florida State's Ta'Niya Latson as the top vote-getters.

2023-24 All-ACC Women’s Basketball Team

Player of the Year: Elizabeth Kitley, Gr., C, Virginia Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: Hannah Hidalgo, Fr., G, Notre Dame
Rookie of the Year: Hannah Hidalgo, G, Notre Dame
Coach of the Year: Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse
Sixth Player of the Year: Oluchi Okananwa, Fr., G, Duke
Most Improved Player: Liatu King, Sr., F, Pitt

All-ACC First Team
Elizabeth Kitley, Gr., C, Virginia Tech – 1,603
Dyaisha Fair, Gr., G, Syracuse – 1,463
Hannah Hidalgo, Fr., G, Notre Dame – 1,461
Georgia Amoore, Sr., G, Virginia Tech – 1,402
Ta'Niya Latson, So., G, Florida State – 1,274
Deja Kelly, Sr., G, North Carolina – 921
Aziaha James, Jr., G, NC State – 871
Saniya Rivers, Jr., G, NC State – 815
Makayla Timpson, Jr., F, Florida State – 766
Liatu King, Sr., F, Pitt – 765

All-ACC Second Team
Maddy Westbeld, Jr., F, Notre Dame – 715
Amari Robinson, Gr., F, Clemson – 698
Sonia Citron, Jr., G, Notre Dame – 651
Alyssa Ustby, Sr., G/F, North Carolina – 573
Kiki Jefferson, Gr., G, Louisville – 504
Kymora Johnson, Fr., G, Virginia – 437
Tonie Morgan, So., G, Georgia Tech – 358
Kara Dunn, So., G, Georgia Tech – 349
Reigan Richardson, Jr., G, Duke – 252
Olivia Cochran, Sr., F, Louisville – 224

All-Defensive Team
Hannah Hidalgo, Fr., G, Notre Dame – 326
Makayla Timpson, Jr., F, Florida State – 231
Elizabeth Kitley, Gr., C, Virginia Tech – 170
Saniya Rivers, Jr., G, NC State – 135
Dontavia Waggoner, Sr., G, Boston College – 102

All-Freshman Team
Hannah Hidalgo, G, Notre Dame – 412
Kymora Johnson, G, Virginia – 304
Zoe Brooks, G, NC State – 162
Oluchi Okananwa, G, Duke – 125
Alyssa Latham, F, Syracuse – 120

ACC Most Improved
Liatu King, Pitt – 237
Aziaha James, NC State – 226
Kara Dunn, Georgia Tech – 121

ACC Sixth Player
Oluchi Okananwa, Duke – 298
Zoe Brooks, NC State – 277
Indya Nivar, North Carolina – 98

ACC Coach of the Year
Felisha Legette-Jack, Syracuse – 293
Kenny Brooks, Virginia Tech – 214
Wes Moore, NC State – 164