Lashes, Layups and a Long Road Back
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 | Women's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – One year ago today, Ra Shaya Kyle was flat on her back at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn. The 6-foot-6 center had collapsed to the floor early in Florida's game at Vanderbilt. She was the team's second-leading scorer and top rebounder at the time, a vital both-ends contributor and one of the Southeastern Conference's top forces in the paint.
As Kyle lay sprawled on the floor, the moment struck her like a sledgehammer.
"My season is over," Kyle thought to herself.
Then came the tears, with each drop a gut punch to her adoring teammates.
"She never really cries," UF sophomore guard Laila Reynolds recalled.
The knee injury was a stark reminder of the physicality of the nation's top basketball league. Basketball had always been her outlet, her passion and her platform. She knew the game she loved – and the goals she set for it – would have to be put aside. It didn't take long for her to understand the road to recovery would test her in ways she never imagined.
But also reward her.
Fast forward one year. Today is Jan. 7, 2024, and Kyle will be sprinting the practice floor as the Gators (10-6, 1-1) prepare for Thursday's home game against 16th-ranked and 3-point shooting Kentucky (13-1, 2-0) at Exactech Arena. Kyle, the fifth-year from Marion, Ind., goes into the game with better numbers than she was posting this time last season – 15.9 points per game and 9.8 rebounds (compared to 13.2 and 9.2) – and is sixth in the nation in double-doubles, the combination a testament to the work and commitment she put in following the most devastating moment of her college career and the determination in facing rehabilitation process that tested her more than she could ever imagine.
"I was in a really dark place," Kyle said. "I was sad and it was really tough not being able to help my team."
The reality that the game she loved would be temporarily out of reach, finally set in and Kyle began the journey to getting healthy.
The months following the injury, and the many days of rehab, pushed the UF standout to her limits. She described the early days of her recovery as some of the hardest moments of her life, filled with doubt and frustration.
"I had some really hard days," she said.
Gators coach Kelly Rae Finley watched as Kyle, in her third UF season since transferring from Purdue, found her way out of the tough spots.
"She worked so hard to get through that, and that's not easy at first," Finley said. "It's a mental battle as much as a physical one."
Kyle, however, remained resilient, finding strength in the small victories. Like taking her first steps without crutches and leaning on the encouragement of those around her. Each grueling session in the weight room and the countless hours in physical therapy were fueled by her desire to return stronger than before.
She spent time alone in treatment or in her thoughts, but had a strong support system made up of family, teammates, and coaches that consistently rallied behind her. The sidelined Kyle remained one of the team's biggest cheerleaders, but also needed the cheers her fellow Gators sent her way.
"They had my back," Kyle said.
While not being able to play took a toll on Kyle, it didn't change the person she was or her impact on the team. Kyle's injury forced her to step into a role where her influence wasn't measured by points or rebounds, but by the strength of her words.
For her teammates, her voice meant more to them than she'd ever know.
"Shay's always there to pick you up and sometimes you just need that," teammates Reynolds and Alexia Dizeko said.
There was never a question if Kyle was a leader, but it wasn't until her injury that she fully tapped into being the veteran of the squad.
The time spent away from the game unlocked a new level of her leadership, one that extended beyond the game and strengthened the core of her team. It also gave her time to rediscover other interests and develop new routines that had often taken a backseat.
When she wasn't dealing with physical therapy, Kyle turned to her faith, something that had always been present but never fully explored. With time on her hand and questions in her heart, Kyle started seeking guidance through attending church and prayer. It was also during this time that she discovered her love for writing. The personal pen-to-paper act became a significant part of her healing process.
She may have been disconnected from basketball, but Kyle reconnected with herself. The months away from the game readied her for a big return.
Kyle, after her 18 points and five rebounds in Sunday's league win over Georgia, is ranked fifth in the SEC for rebounds (9.8) and third in field-goal percentage (64.1). She also leads the Gators when it comes to inspiring.
"That's what she's going to do." assistant coach Jackie Moore said of UF's biggest big. "Ra Shaya Kyle is back and she's not here to play nice."
Call it "Kyle's style." With her size, skill and a point to prove, she's reclaiming her spot as one of the toughest matchups in the league. Her game speaks for itself, but if she had any advice for her opponents, it's simple.
"You better play some defense," she said.
SEC teams might want to rethink their strategy, because when Kyle gets the ball in the post, the outcome isn't up for debate. It's all business.
And this time, her season isn't over. It's just beginning.
