Kansas State’s women’s basketball team took a hit this week before the season even tips off, losing guard Brandie Harrod for the year because of an undisclosed injury.
The news comes at a tough moment for a Wildcats squad that enters the season with real expectations. Kansas State was ranked No. 25 in the preseason poll and picked by the Big 12 media to finish seventh in the conference. That set the stage for a team looking to make noise in the league and beyond, but Harrod’s absence changes the picture.
Coach Jeff Mittie didn’t hide how much the loss stings.
"Incredibly disappointed for Brandie," Mittie said. "She had worked so hard in the offseason and was poised to really build off her freshman season. Our staff will continue to support and help her through this injury to come back strong next year."
Harrod’s freshman season gave Kansas State a solid foundation to build on. She started 33 of 37 games, averaged 6.1 points and 4.8 assists, and shot 43 percent from the field. That kind of production makes her season-ending injury a major setback, even with the Wildcats still carrying plenty of talent into the year.
Kansas State opens its season at home against Wichita State on Nov. 2.
While the women’s program absorbed that blow, there was also good recruiting news for Kansas State football. Collin Klein picked up a commitment from Malachi Johnson, a linebacker/edge rusher in the 2028 class, on Wednesday.
Johnson made his decision public on social media and wrote: With great gratitude, I’m excited to announce that I am officially committing to @kstate! Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey and helped me get to this point. I’m truly grateful for the support, guidance, and belief along the way."
Johnson is listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds and plays at Lift For Life Academy in St. Louis. As a junior, he has 28 total tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks.
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Kansas State Fans Will Learn Fast What Casey Alexander's Reset Really Is
Casey Alexander is only in his first season at Kansas State, but he is already talking like a coach who understands how unforgiving the Big 12 can be. He has made it clear that reaching the NCAA Tournament is no easy standard in this league, and that the real work starts with building a program sturdy enough to handle the weekly grind. For a Wildcats team still taking shape under a new voice, that means the early months are less about quick fixes than laying down a foundation that can hold up when conference play tightens.
Alexander also sounds convinced his group has the effort to grow into the job, even with the schedule offering little room to breathe. The Big 12 slate ahead will show plenty about where Kansas State stands, and it will also reveal how quickly the Wildcats can turn belief into results. The reset is underway, but in this league, the calendar has a way of demanding answers before a coach is finished explaining the plan. [Read more 🡒]