Adrian Holguin
October 22nd, 2026
OPINION: K-State WBB Lives On Leadership
Earlier this week, Kansas State Women’s Basketball head Coach Jeff Mittie praised his team’s emerging leadership at Big 12 Basketball Media Days in Kansas City, but season-ending injuries to Ramiyah White and Brandi Harrod have left the Wildcats facing questions about their ability to make a run in the 2026-27 season.
One year ago, fans questioned where leadership would come from after Ayoka Lee, Serena Sundell, and Gabby Gregory left the program over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The good news is that this doesn’t seem to be an issue heading into the 2026-27 season. Mittie was singing the praises of Taryn Sides, Nastja Claessens, and Gina Garcia throughout the week; all accompanied Mittie in Kansas City.
Taryn Sides is entering her fourth season as a Wildcat, and she says it is strange to be one of the older players on the roster and have to step into the same shoes Sundell and Lee wore during her first year. Claessens has reportedly taken on a much more vocal role for the Cats entering her senior season, according to Coach Mittie, and Garcia has also taken on an extended leadership role, though she isn’t the most vocal person in the locker room. Instead, she lets her actions speak louder than her words.
This leadership will be needed with Ramiyah White and Brandi Harrod suffering season-ending injuries in recent weeks. Mittie said Ramiyah had one of the best offseasons on the team. He also said it is important that the team stays healthy after those injuries, and with White out, the Wildcats will face a new challenge in how they handle the front court, given the apparent lack of size up and down the women’s basketball roster.
Mittie also made it clear the team will look to add talent to its depth chart amid the two injuries that leave only 10 players on the active roster. But every move must make sense in both the short and long term. He said he isn’t looking to add anyone just to plug a short-term hole; he wants any additions to become long-term, valuable assets.
Coach is happy with his team’s consistent practice habits, and he also said the physicality he is seeing has been very encouraging. While the team is going through preseason struggles with different lineups gelling, it is fun for Mittie to assess everyone’s individual strengths and which lineups can benefit the team.
To return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Sundell and Lee left Kansas State, the Wildcats will need to turn their emerging leadership and consistent practice habits into results. How Mittie manages the team’s limited depth will be a central question when Kansas State opens its season against the WSU Shockers on Nov. 2.