Kentucky fired women’s basketball coach Kyra Elzy on Monday with a terse announcement: “I appreciate Kyra for her efforts at Kentucky, on and off the court, and wish her and her family the best in the future,” athletic director Mitch Barnhart said in the brisk news release.

Kyra Elzy, @KentuckyWBB Head Coach, relieved of duties. https://t.co/unVQShnyI8

— Kentucky Athletics (@UKAthletics) March 11, 2024

There wasn’t much else to say, as the Elzy era has largely been a disaster in Lexington. The Wildcats just recorded consecutive 12-win seasons and went 6-26 in SEC play over the last two years. If not for a stunning run to the 2022 SEC tournament title, Elzy likely would’ve been gone much sooner.

That year, Kentucky was a disappointing 15-11 overall and 8-8 in league play, despite a very talented roster that included the 2022 No. 1 WNBA draft pick Rhyne Howard, before winning four games in as many days in Nashville. Upsets wins over ranked LSU, Tennessee and eventual national champion South Carolina to hoist the SEC trophy provided some hope that Elzy could right the ship. She could not.

Elzy, who played for Pat Summitt at Tennessee and was a longtime assistant at both Tennessee and Kentucky, finished one game over .500 as the Wildcats coach, 61-60 overall, and 23-40 in league play. She won just 24 games total the last two years, while her predecessor Matthew Mitchell averaged 23 wins over 13 seasons.

Mitchell made three Elite Eights, five Sweet 16s, had seven 25-win seasons and nine NCAA Tournament appearances over his final 11 years at Kentucky before handing the baton to Elzy heading into the 2020-21 season. Notably, Mitchell still lives in Lexington.

As for Elzy, she’ll receive a decent payday to soothe the sting of being fired. Kentucky owes her a $2.475 million buyout unless both parties agree to different terms or she gets another job before the end of her UK contract in June of 2027.

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(Photo: Eakin Howard / Getty Images)