LOS ANGELES — The Sparks are a young team but they also have a few veterans that have that championship experience.
One of those players is forward Azurá Stevens, who won a championship in 2021 with the Chicago Sky. Then in 2023, she signed with the Los Angeles Sparks to help with the rebuild back to prominence.
Stevens was hurt earlier in the season with an arm injury but she's since returned to play very well for the Sparks, averaging 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in 12 games this season. She has size but her versatility is what makes her valuable as she can play in the post and also shoot from the perimeter.
She is shooting .348 from behind the arc this season. And against Seattle on July 16th, she scored 24 points and grabbed a career-best 15 boards. She and the Sparks get a big test on Wednesday when they visit Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever.
Stevens talked with The Sporting Tribune during practice before they played the Atlanta Dream last weekend.
TST: You signed with the Sparks in 2023. What was it that made you want to sign here?
AS: Just the history and tradition. I played in Chicago for three years. We won and it was cool to be part of the sort of the tail end of that but I wanted to be part of the sort of a rebuilding thing. That’s kind of what L.A. was pitching to me and they’re trying to get back to the old L.A. and I wanted to be a part of that.
I grew up watching Candace (Parker). I grew up watching Lisa (Leslie) so to be able to play in the same organization that they played in is just, honestly, like a dream.
TST: That’s why you signed the extension to be here through 2025, right?
AS: For sure, yeah. I love what we’ve been building here and I know the results haven’t necessarily looked their best but I’m excited about the little steps we’re putting in and I know the wins will come eventually.
TST: Speaking of wins, that was a huge win over the Liberty on Wednesday. How is the team feeling right now?
AS: Awesome! I know it’s so exciting for us. Obviously, beating New York, the #1 team in the league, for us to get that and getting a couple of days off is really good momentum and we’re looking to keep that going.
TST: What do you think has been the biggest growth of this team from the start of the season?
AS: I would say our defense. That’s one of the biggest things I noticed against New York. We really played good defense. We were really aggressive. I think regardless of what schemes we’re doing, we can always control that. So to see us be able to get out there just causing disruption was really awesome.
Los Angeles Sparks Center Azura Stevens (23), taking a jumper during a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky, Saturday August 17, 2024 in Los Angeles, California (John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune)
TST: As far as what needs improvement, does it just go hand-in-hand with experience and chemistry?
AS: Yeah, for sure. I think we’re building a lot of chemistry as these games go on. Just late-game execution is the biggest area we need to grow on. We’ve seen a lot of games we’ve been really close and we haven’t been able to close it out so I think late-game execution, both offensively and defensively, is really what we need to improve on.
TST: As far as the game goes, we’re seeing an exponential growth. We’ve seen the good and the bad. Did you think it was about time that the league got the recognition?
AS: Yeah, for sure. I’ve been in the league for seven years so I’ve seen a lot of change and growth. And I know the players older than me have seen so much more growth. To see all the attention we’re getting now and it’s a lot of credit to the rookies. They brought a lot of their college fans, like we all have but especially them. Just how exciting the Final Four was in the past couple of years.
They brought a lot of fans into this league. I credit them. They’re a group of really talented young women and it’s so exciting to see them this year and excited to watch them as the years go on.
TST: Was making it to the WNBA always the goal?
AS: Oh, definitely. Since I started playing, I always wanted to be a pro. I’m happy to be living my dream every day.
TST: You mentioned Candace and Lisa. Anyone else you have watched that you patterned your game after?
AS: Yeah. Elena Delle Donne. I love her game so much. I’m sad she’s not playing anymore but I’ve always loved watching her just how calm she is and how methodical she is. Her size and her versatility is something I have as well so just to be able to watch her game evolve from college all the way to the pros and see her become one of the most decorated players in the league… she was definitely another one I looked up to.
TST: Is that where you got it from? Because you’re calm and you’re methodical as well!
AS: Yeah! I think for sure! She’s definitely one of my favorite players I’ve ever watched. Candace, for sure, was my No. 1. But even Lauren Jackson, just the players that are tall that can do everything. Even Stewie (Breanna Stewart), I know she’s only one year older than me but I grew up watching her game even from UConn all the way to now and just how she’s been so dominant. Just being a post player that can literally do everything.
TST: And it was definitely a dream for you to play with Candace in Chicago. You guys won the title together!
AS: Yeah, I know! A dream come true! Honestly, that was definitely one of, if not the best part of my career so far just being able to win. That’s what you do it for. That’s what you play for: to get that championship. I’m just so grateful for the time I had in Chicago. I love Candace, Allie (Quigley), Sloot (Courtney Vandersloot), Kah (Kahleah Copper), Diamond (DeShields), Dana (Evans), I still talk to all of them to this day. We’ll always be forever connected with that championship so it’s just awesome to be able to experience that.
Oct 19, 2021; Chicago, IL, USA; The Chicago Sky celebrate their WNBA Championship at Millennium Park. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
TST: Was the adjustment from college to the pros harder than you anticipated?
AS: Not really. UConn, (Huskies coach) Geno (Auriemma), and CD (Huskies associate coach Chris Dailey) did such a great job of preparing for this level. There was obviously a rookie adjustment that I had but they prepared me for this level. I didn’t come in and have something that was super shocking. I was prepared for every moment that came to me so I’ll always just give credit to CD and Geno because they just do a great job of developing pros and I’m really grateful I got to play for them.
TST: Lightning round. Hobbies outside of basketball.
AS: Bike riding, sunbathing, playing with my cat, watching TV, hanging out with my friends, movies…
TST: Tik Tok?
AS: Yeah, Tik Tok! Me and Rickea (Jackson) with Tik Tok! *laughs*
TST: What’s in your pregame playlist?
AS: Right now… I listen to some modern rap, a little bit of modern pop. I really like Chappell Roan. One of my good friends put me on to her so I’ve been listening to her a little bit, too.
TST: What are you watching?
AS: This is crazy because I’m actually not watching TV at the moment. I’ve just been so busy with traveling and stuff but I’m about to start Death Note, it’s an anime. I asked fans what are some good anime and Gabby (Williams) always put me on to good anime so I’m gonna start Death Note soon.
TST: Favorite food?
AS: Pizza. Pepperoni pizza.
TST: Guilty pleasures?
AS: Dessert. I love dessert. Any type of dessert. Ice cream, cake, cookies.
Alcohol. I don’t drink it a lot. I love a good glass of wine, a good Margarita. Either of the two.
TST: Let’s go back to food. You have a food trailer. How did that start?
AS: My dad’s a chef. I grew up really, really reaping the benefits of having a chef in my house. I’m from North Carolina. A lot of people know me down there.
And me and him just got to talking and he wanted to open a restaurant. It would sort of be like a sports theme ‘cause (my sisters) played basketball as well.
We kind of looked up the cost of what that would be compared to a food truck and then we just got the idea… if we put my talents and notoriety together with his, we can make something really special happen. We just compared the pricing and the food truck overhead costs is way cheaper so that’s how we decided to do it.
TST: What’s a favorite on the menu?
AS: The best seller is the shrimp and grits. He fries the shrimp but the grits has been there from the beginning. So if anybody goes, you have to do that. If you’re a Sparks fan, you can get a little discount! So if you’re ever in the North Carolina area, go to our food truck. (NOTE: Here's the link to their food truck called Same O Dame O's!)
TST: What would you want Azura Stevens’ legacy to be?
AS: Winning and the impact that I have on everybody that watches me. My teammates, my coaches, the fans… I always want to leave a positive impact that everybody I’ve come across because it’s bigger than just playing basketball.
Anybody can go out there and play but I think we saw Kobe (Bryant) and how many lives he touched and that’s something that’s really inspiring to me. I wanna leave that impact on anybody that I’ve come across. I hope I spread positivity to all the fans, my teammates, my coaches, and every team that I’ve been on.
TST: Finally, anything you want to say to the Sparks fans out there.
AS: I just want to say that I’m so appreciative of you guys. I’ve felt the love literally since I’ve come here.
And like I said the other day, I know we haven’t won a lot but just stick with us, please. Even I learned that from Sloot and Allie.
They were with Chicago through a lot of change, a lot of losses, a lot of down moments before they won. And I think that the fans that stick through all of that, it means a lot when we finally get that championship.
Hopefully, we get back to winning pretty soon, eventually a championship, and it’s going to make all these moments that much better.