Azra Stevens, who spent just one season with the UConn women’s basketball team in 2017-18, says returning to Connecticut always feels like coming home. The Mohegan Sun Arena holds special memories for the former Husky standout, where she had the best game of her UConn career during the 2018 American Athletic Conference semi-final, scoring 21 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking four shots in her first postseason double-double, despite the team’s loss to Cincinnati. That season, UConn won its second consecutive AAC championship in South Florida.
Stevens gave fans a familiar and impressive performance when the Los Angeles Sparks played against the Connecticut Sun, opening the game with a corner three-pointer and finishing with 17 points in her eighth WNBA season, surpassing 2,000 career points. Reflecting on her connection to Connecticut, Stevens shared that she always feels a lot of love from fans and fondly remembers the long bus rides from campus to the arena.
After transferring to UConn from Duke, Stevens was drafted sixth overall by the Dallas Wings in 2018 but faced challenges in the league due to injuries, missing substantial time in 2019 and 2020 due to foot and knee injuries, and battling a back injury in 2023 with the Sparks. Despite these setbacks, she has remained resilient, managing to stay healthy throughout the 2025 season and earning consistent playing time.
In her third year with the Sparks, Stevens is having a breakout season, averaging career highs in points (14.8), rebounds (8.5), assists (2), and steals (1.5), along with 1.3 blocks per game. In a recent 101-86 victory over the Sun, she shone from three-point range, adding eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals, showcasing her all-around game.
Sparks head coach Lynn Roberts praised Stevens for her shooting ability, smart play, and consistency on both ends of the court. Roberts, who took over coaching the Sparks in 2025 after a successful college coaching career, gave Stevens the confidence and green light to maximize her role, especially shooting from beyond the arc. Stevens ranks second on the team in three-point percentage and is one of two Sparks players shooting over 50% on 10+ field goal attempts per game.
Stevens credits Roberts’ offensive system and her offseason experience playing in the 3-on-3 league—founded by former UConn stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart—for helping her confidence and aggressiveness on the court. Her club, Rose BC, won the inaugural championship of the 3-on-3 league, which emphasizes quick decisions and shooting accuracy, traits that have translated well into her WNBA game.
Fan Take: Azra Stevens’ resurgence is a thrilling development for WNBA fans as it showcases the deep talent and resilience within the league. Her journey from injury setbacks to becoming a key contributor for the Sparks highlights the growing competitiveness and skill level in women’s basketball, promising an exciting future for the sport.
