UK loses one of its leaders. Starting forward Leveretter out for season after tearing ACL.

The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team will have to finish the season without one of its key starters.

Junior forward Nyah Leveretter tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee on Sunday during Kentucky’s 79-57 loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville. She will miss the remainder of the season.

“Our program is saddened by this update,” Kentucky Coach Kyra Elzy said in a news release. “Nyah’s positive energy, defensive intensity and will to win will be missed when we take the court the rest of the season. She has displayed a tremendous amount of courage and positivity over the last 24 hours, which is a testament to her character. The leadership she brings to our team is impacting and I have no doubt that she will continue to inspire us through her healing process. Myself, our staff, and the team are wrapping our arms extra tight around Nyah right now and I hope fans will share their love and support with her, too, during this difficult time.”

Leveretter has played in all 26 of Kentucky’s games this season and started 21, including the last 16 straight. She’s averaged 2.5 points and 3.9 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game for the Wildcats (10-16 overall, 2-12 Southeastern Conference).

She recently recorded a career-high 11 rebounds against Auburn on Jan. 26 and tied her career high of eight points in UK’s Jan. 29 victory over Missouri.

Originally from Blythewood, S.C., Leveretter is a broadcast journalism major. She has made the SEC Academic Honor Roll each year and was recently named to the 2023 Frank G. Ham Society of Character. She also represented UK at the 2022-23 SEC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Leadership Council annual meeting this season.

The 6-foot-3 Leveretter is one of only five players on UK’s roster listed as forwards or centers. One of those players, Tionna Herron, has missed her entire freshman season after undergoing heart surgery. LSU transfer Ajae Petty and Buffalo transfer Adebola Adeyeye have shared the bulk of the post minutes with Leveretter. Freshman Zennia Thomas has been more of a contributor in recent games.

The Wildcats have two regular season games remaining — Thursday at Texas A&M and Sunday at home vs. Tennessee — before the SEC Tournament March 1-5 in Greenville, S.C.

Next game

Kentucky at Texas A&M

When: 7 p.m. EST Thursday

TV: SEC Network

Radio: WLAP-AM 630

Records: Texas A&M 6-17 (1-12 SEC), Kentucky 10-16 (2-12 SEC)

Series: Texas A&M leads 8-5

Last meeting: Texas A&M won on Feb. 6, 2022, in Lexington