Rose BC forward Azura Stevens has been using her TikTok platform to connect with fellow players while competing in Unrivaled, a women’s professional 3-on-3 basketball league in Miami, and the engagement has been remarkable. “TikTok has become an ideal space for collaboration since almost everyone is on it,” Stevens shared with USA TODAY Sports. “It just came about naturally.”
Standing 6-foot-6, Stevens brings experience from her WNBA career, having played with teams like the Dallas Wings, Chicago Sky, and most recently the Los Angeles Sparks. A fan of dancing, she began creating TikTok videos during her time in Chicago, initially filming solo before inviting friends to join. After signing with the Sparks in 2023, she continued making content alongside teammates such as center Cameron Brink and forward Rikea Jackson.
When Jackson and Stevens reunited in Miami for Unrivaled’s second season, their partnership extended beyond the court into a social media movement aimed at dominating the TikTok scene within the league. Stevens also collaborated with several WNBA stars during her Unrivaled downtime, including Rookie of the Year guard Paige Bueckers from Brees BC. She took the lead on choreography and song choices, while Bueckers contributed witty captions.
“The video with Paige just happened by chance,” Stevens explained. “I saw her and said, ‘Let’s make a TikTok.’ We exchanged ideas and developed it from there. People often say she lacks rhythm, but she’s actually a very talented dancer.”
Stevens describes the TikTok projects as both fun and silly, giving fans a glimpse of players’ personalities that might be missed during official WNBA games. This platform also fosters closer connections between athletes and their supporters.
Since launching these TikToks in Miami, Stevens has deepened relationships with numerous players, working with Brink, Jackson, Brees BC teammates, and over a dozen others—including Unrivaled co-founder Nafeesa Collier and Sparks/Phantoms guard Kelsey Plumb. Plumb, who rarely posts videos herself, requested something simple, which turned out to be a hit. Stevens fondly recalled Plumb’s intense focus during rehearsal as a highlight.
Stevens continues to involve one player at a time around Unrivaled’s facility, with Connecticut Sun guard Saniya Rivers slated for her own video. Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young has shown tentative interest depending on the concept. However, some stars prefer to stay off the camera—such as Inimitable co-founder and Mist forward Breanna Stewart and Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas.
Notably, Stevens is planning a UConn Huskies-themed TikTok featuring Stewart—who is a four-time champion with the program—and Stewart happily agreed. Thomas, on the other hand, has avoided much camera exposure during her two seasons in Unrivaled, but Stevens remains determined to include her before the season ends. With encouragement from Thomas’ fiancée, DeWanna Bonner, Stevens hopes to persuade her to join in, even if it’s not a dance.
“I need all my fans to help convince Alyssa to do something with me, even just one thing,” Stevens said with a grin. “I told her it doesn’t have to be dancing; we can come up with something else. She said ‘maybe,’ so I believe I’m gradually winning her over.”
With nearly 20 players already involved in these TikTok collaborations, Stevens aims to feature every athlete in the league but admits completing that by season’s end might be a stretch. “We’ll see what happens,” she said.
Fan Take: This growing trend of WNBA stars embracing social media platforms like TikTok offers fans a fresh and relatable window into players’ personalities beyond the game. It also helps elevate the visibility of women’s basketball, potentially attracting a wider audience and creating stronger community bonds within the sport.
