Kiah Stokes

Kiah Stokes (born March 30, 1993) is an American basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She chosen by the Liberty with the No.11 pick in the first round of the 2015 WNBA Draft at Mohegan Sun Arena. She played four years at the University of Connecticut where she was part of four consecutive Final Four teams and won three straight national championships [2013-15]. Prior to enrolling at UConn she played for Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa. She played on the USA Basketball U16 National Team, where she helped the team win the FIBA Americas U16 Championship Gold Medal. She is the daughter of former NBA player Greg Stokes.

Early life

Stokes is the daughter of Greg Stokes and Julie Saddler and has one brother, Darius. Her father was an all-American basketball player at the University of Iowa, played for the Philadelphia 76ers and won gold with the 1983 USA Pan American Games Team. When Stokes was only four years old, her father signed her up for a YMCA track team which was designed for five and six-year-olds. Despite being a year or two younger than everyone else she competed in the 60 yard dash and beat everyone by 20 yards. That's when he knew she might be a special type of athlete.

High school

Stokes attended Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa. Stokes was a three-year starter at Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa, where she has started in 52 of 76 games played. In her freshman year in 2007-08, started in one of 25 games played and averaged 7.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.0 blocks to help Linn-Mar to a 22-3 record. She shot 60.0 percent from the field and 56.5 percent from the free throw line. As a sophomore, she had two triple doubles, and averaged 15.7 ppg., 12.5 rpg. and 6.7 bpg. to help Linn-Mar to a 24-1 record the 4A state semifinals. Stokes holds state sophomore and school record with 160 blocks in 2008-09. During her junior year, she averaged 19.9 ppg., 13.5 rpg. and 5.8 bpg. to help Linn-Mar to a 26-0 record and Iowa 4A state title. As a senior, Stokes averaged 25.0 points, 14.8 rebounds and 5.1 blocks per game in her final year at Linn-Mar High School. She was named the Iowa's 2010 Gatorade State Player of the year and honored as a 2011 McDonald's, Parade Magazine, WBCA All-American. She compiled 1,079 points, 867 rebounds and 515 career blocks which is the Iowa high school record for career blocked shots. In addition to basketball, she also participated in volleyball finished third at nationals in 2008.

USA Basketball

2009 U16 Mexico City

Stokes was selected to be a member of the first ever U16 team for USA Basketball. The team competed in the First FIBA Americas U16 Championship For Women held in Mexico City, Mexico in August 2009. Stokes averaged 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She helped the team to a 5–0 record and the Gold medal at the competition. The win secured an automatic bid to the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship.

College career

Freshman year

Stokes ended her freshman campaign averaging 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in her 13.4 minutes per game. Stokes was second on the team in blocks as she averaged 1.4 denials per game. She led the Huskies in blocks in 13 of 38 contests. Stokes shot 60 percent from the field and 65.3 percent from the free throw line.She was named to the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team along with teammate Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.

Sophomore year

As a sophomore in 2012-13, aided Connecticut to a 35-4 record and the 2013 NCAA National Championship. Stokes saw time in 32 games, averaging 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per contest. She was third on the team with 39 blocks, and as an efficient 35-53 from the field (.660) and dished-out 21 assists against 20 turnovers. Stokes recorded double-digit minutes in 17 games.

Junior year

Stokes helped lead her team to an undefeated 40-0 season and the 2014 National Championship. Stokes started two of 39 games and averaged 4.5 points and was third on the squad at 7.1 rebounds in only 18.5 minutes per contest. She recorded four double-doubles, after posting just one in her first two years, with double-digit rebounds on eight occasions. She had seven or more rebounds 21 times during the season.

WNBA Career

In two seasons, she has averaged 58.8 % in field goals, 65.4 % in free throws, and 6.3 points per game.

Kiah Stokes and the New York Liberty played in the 2016 WNBA playoffs.

College statistics

Awards and honors

• Named to the 2009 Iowa Newspaper Association and Des Moines Register 4A All-State first team in 2009 and 2010.
• Selected to the 2009 all-state tournament team.
• Named to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association 2009 4A
• All-State first team.
• Honored as an all-metro first team selection in 2009.
• 2010—Parade Magazine All-America fourth team honors.
• 2010—Gatorade State Player of the Year.
• 2010—ESPN Rise.com All-America second team.
• Tabbed 2010 All-Mississippi Valley Conference first team in 2009 and 2010 and all-conference second team in 2008.
• 2015—First Team Senior CLASS Award All-American
• 2015—WNBA All-Rookie Team
• 2015—WNBA All-Defensive Second Team