UNCASVILLE — Former UConn women’s basketball player Kiah Stokes won three NCAA championships while representing the state of Connecticut from 2011 to 2015.
Back in the state she calls her second home, she spent Sunday evening celebrating her first WNBA championship in the visitor’s locker room of Mohegan Sun Arena.
“It feels amazing. It’s kinda like home,” Stokes said. “I played at Mohegan Sun a couple times throughout the Big East and American (Athletic Conference) tournaments so it’s like a second home arena. At least the fans in Connecticut have someone to cheer for, even if they’re not a fan of the team. … The fans are awesome. It was a great arena. A great game and I’m just glad we played it out.”
Stokes helped propel the Las Vegas Aces to a 78-71 win in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals against the Connecticut Sun to win the best-of-five series 3-1 and claim the franchise’s first championship. The Aces’ title gives the city of Las Vegas its first major professional sports championship.
Former UConn women’s basketball star Kiah Stokes celebrates after winning her first WNBA championship. She becomes the 19th former Husky to win a WNBA title.
Photo by Maggie VanoniShe became the 19th former Husky to win a WNBA title, joining the likes of UConn legends Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart and Maya Moore.
Stokes said this championship felt just as hard as winning at the collegiate level.
“In college, it’s the hardest thing you’ve done and now that I’m a pro, it’s the hardest thing I’ve done,” she said. “It’s incredible. It’s awesome. The main difference is it’s a series, so you gotta be pretty good for multiple games whereas in college you have to be perfect in that exact moment. … We worked really hard for this and just to have all our hard work all season pay off it just means the world.”
In Vegas’ 10 postseason games, Stokes averaged 3.7 points and 7.2 rebounds in 25.9 minutes per game. She joined the Aces’ starting lineup in August and was their starting center in each of the team’s final 14 games.
After the game Sunday, Stokes celebrated by popping champagne and dancing in the Aces’ locker room with her teammates including 2022 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and Finals MVP Chelsea Gray. There was so much champagne that the floor of the locker room was coated with about an inch of the alcohol.
Aces’ Kelsey Plum interrupted the team’s postgame press conference by dancing on stage with a boom box. Later she walked around the arena, blasting music and holding a bottle of champagne in the other hand.
Las Vegas will shut down part of the Strip Tuesday evening for the Aces’ celebration parade.
maggie.vanoni@hearstmediact.com @maggie_vanoni
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