Kiah Stokes is an accomplished professional basketball player from the United States, representing the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA. She was chosen by the New York Liberty as the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2015 WNBA draft. Kiah Stokes has enjoyed significant success, earning two WNBA championships with the Aces in 2022 and 2023. In addition to her WNBA achievements, she also claimed a Euroleague championship with Fenerbahce in 2023.
Kiah Stokes was born on March 30, 1993, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States. Growing up in a family with a rich basketball heritage, her father was an all-American player at the University of Iowa, who went on to play for the Philadelphia 76ers and achieved gold with the 1983 USA Pan American Games Team. This strong influence shaped her path in basketball, and she began her journey in the sport at just four years old.
Kiah Stokes spent four years at the University of Connecticut, contributing to four consecutive Final Four appearances and securing three national championships in a row from 2013 to 2015. Before joining the UConn Huskies, she showcased her talent at Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa. Additionally, she was a member of the USA Basketball U16 National Team, playing a key role in their victory at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship, where they earned the Gold Medal.
Kiah Stokes concluded her freshman season with averages of 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds over 13.4 minutes per game. She was a key player for the UConn Huskies, leading the team in blocks in 13 out of 38 games. Kiah Stokes also displayed remarkable shooting accuracy, achieving 60 percent from the field and 65.3 percent from the free-throw line. Her contributions were recognized as she was selected for the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team, sharing the honor with teammate Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
In the 2012/2013 season, Kiah Stokes, as a sophomore, played a key role in helping Connecticut secure a 35–4 record and win the NCAA National Championship. She played in 32 games, putting up an average of 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in about 10.7 minutes per game. Kiah Stokes was a defensive standout, ranking third on the team with 39 blocks, and she shot an efficient 35-53 from the field (.660). She also managed to dish out 21 assists while having 20 turnovers, and she played double-digit minutes in 17 games.
Kiah Stokes played a pivotal role in guiding her team to an impressive undefeated record of 40–0 and clinching the 2014 National Championship. She made her mark by starting in two of the 39 games, where she averaged 4.5 points and stood out as the third-best rebounder on the team with 7.1 rebounds in only 18.5 minutes per game. Kiah Stokes showcased her growth by recording four double-doubles this season, compared to just one in her first two years, and reached double-digit rebounds eight times. Notably, she achieved seven or more rebounds in 21 games during the season, highlighting her impact on the court.
The New York Liberty picked Kiah Stokes with the 11th selection in the first round of the 2015 WNBA draft. Over her first two seasons, she has maintained an impressive shooting percentage of 58.8% from the field and 65.4% from the free-throw line, contributing an average of 6.3 points per game. In 2016, she and the Liberty made their mark in the WNBA playoffs.
After being waived by the New York Liberty in 2021, Kiah Stokes found a new home with the Las Vegas Aces. The very next season, she triumphed with a WNBA Championship and secured the 18th spot in the league for blocked shots. Stokes showcased her scoring ability by hitting a season-high of 9 points in two games—once against Chicago on August 11 and again against Seattle on August 14. Furthermore, she achieved a remarkable 10 rebounds in a game against the Indiana Fever on July 31.
In 2023, the Las Vegas Aces, featuring Kiah Stokes, clinched the WNBA Championship once more. On July 25, she matched her career-high by securing 17 rebounds in a game against Chicago and showcased her skills with four games of double-digit rebounds. Kiah Stokes also made 22 starts after Candace Parker was sidelined due to foot surgery, demonstrating her resilience and commitment to the team.
Kiah Stokes photos
