Laksa makes draft decision, but future at USF still unclear

Kitija Laksa waves to the crowd on senior night at the Yuengling Center. Laksa announced Sunday she will not be enterting this year's WNBA Draft, however her future at USF remains unknown. ORACLE PHOTO/BRIAN HATTAB
Not much had been known about USF women’s basketball star Kitija Laksa’s future heading into Sunday.
Now, it’s at least known where the immediate future won’t take her — the WNBA.
Laksa announced via Instagram on Sunday that she would not be entering this year’s WNBA Draft, instead choosing to focus on rehabbing her knee. Laksa missed almost the entire 2018-19 season after tearing her ACL and meniscus in the third game of the season.
“I have decided not to enter this year’s WNBA Draft,” Laksa wrote. “I will be focusing on my knee’s rehabilitation and taking it day by day.”
However, Laksa did not specify whether she would declare a medical redshirt and return to USF for a fifth year. USF Associate Director of Communications Lorie Garnett could only confirm Laksa’s decision to not enter the draft but nothing beyond that.
Should Laksa decide to return to USF, she would stand to set the program’s all-time scoring record. Laksa, who currently sits at No. 6 all-time, would need 638 points to pass Jessica Dickson for the top spot.
Coach Jose Fernandez reportedly has spoken with Laksa and said she is keeping all her options open at this point, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Laksa had until Monday to declare for the WNBA Draft.
Laksa is scheduled to graduate in May with a bachelor’s in psychology.
More Stories
USF delays opening of on-campus stadium by one year, releases updated design model
Fans will have to wait a bit longer than anticipated to see an on-campus stadium. USF announced that the on-campus stadium opening has been delayed from its initial projection in fall 2026 until 2027 at Tuesday’s Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting. It was also announced that construction on the stadium will not begin until fall […]
USF to play Syracuse in Boca Raton Bowl. Here’s what that means.
USF football is set to face Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 21. It’s the first time the Bulls (6-6, 4-4 AAC) will play the Orange (6-6, 2-6 ACC) in seven years. Syracuse started its season winning six straight but only won two games in Atlantic Coast conference play. It fired head coach […]
USF advances to NIVC quarter finals after beating Buffalo and Saint John’s
USF volleyball beat Buffalo 3-0 and St. John’s 3-2 on Friday and Saturday, to advance to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) quarter finals. After their division title clinching win against Rice on Nov. 22, Bulls volleyball coach Jolene Shepardson said her team wanted to improve in the NIVC this year. “In 2018, we went […]
USF ends agreement with company leading construction of on-campus stadium
USF has terminated the design-build agreement for the $340 million on-campus stadium project, according to an official statement issued by USF on Friday. The university previously reached a $14.8 million design-build agreement with Tampa-based construction company Barton Marlow on April 25. The statement issued by USF said “the university has informed Barton Marlow of its […]
USF quarterback Byrum Brown left off conference award list despite record-setting season
On Tuesday, five Bulls were awarded with American All-Conference honors, with a glaring absence at the quarterback position. Byrum Brown failed to pick up a conference award or honorable mention after a historic redshirt freshman season. Conference all-team honors are voted on by the 14 head coaches in the American and awarded to the top […]
USF quarterback Gerry Bohanon enters transfer portal
After not playing a single game this season, senior quarterback Gerry Bohanon’s time at USF has come to an end. Bohanon announced on his Instagram on Tuesday that he is entering the transfer portal as a graduate student. He has one more year of collegiate eligibility. The transfer portal opens on Dec. 4. “I am […]