Tale of Kiah Stokes | The Boneyard

Tale of Kiah Stokes

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FanFromMaine

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Once upon a time, Kiah Stokes was a UConn Husky. Doris Burke said of her that she had a WNBA physique yet she languished on the bench for 3 long years.

Finally, early in her Senior season, she grabbed 18 rebounds against Notre Dame, she started posting up and she swatted everything that came her way.

I have my own suppositions as to the cause of the change but the most probable reason seems to me to be is that she wanted to be in the WNBA after all.
 
FanFromMaine said:
Once upon a time, Kiah Stokes was a UConn Husky. Doris Burke said of her that she had a WNBA physique yet she languished on the bench for 3 long years.

Finally, early in her Senior season, she grabbed 18 rebounds against Notre Dame, she started posting up and she swatted everything that came her way.

I have my own suppositions as to the cause of the change but the most probable reason seems to me to be is that she wanted to be in the WNBA after all.
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Languished on the bench?

390F9630-0A79-4603-9EAF-101A71A083F7.jpeg
E29BEE30-7AAC-4B50-9119-19F6F5B78CD4.jpeg
 
FanFromMaine said:
Once upon a time, Kiah Stokes was a UConn Husky. Doris Burke said of her that she had a WNBA physique yet she languished on the bench for 3 long years.

Finally, early in her Senior season, she grabbed 18 rebounds against Notre Dame, she started posting up and she swatted everything that came her way.

I have my own suppositions as to the cause of the change but the most probable reason seems to me to be is that she wanted to be in the WNBA after all.
Expand ...
key words: ”WNBA physique”

No one currently on the active roster possesses that, other than Edwards
 
FanFromMaine said:
I have my own suppositions as to the cause of the change but the most probable reason seems to me to be is that she wanted to be in the WNBA after all.
Expand ...
I vaguely recall an interview with either Kiah or Geno, where whichever one it was recounted a conversation between the two of them. IIRC, the essence of it was Kiah trying to figure out how to get off the bench and contribute more, Geno asking her what she felt her strengths were. Kiah said she was most comfortable with rebounding and rim-protection, and Geno told her to concentrate on that. And from there she transformed from ineffective scorer to the defensive beast that we all came to know and love. I don't recall the WNBA being part of the discussion.
 
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hoopsdiva said:
I vaguely recall an interview with either Kiah or Geno, where whichever one it was recounted a conversation between the two of them. IIRC, the essence of it was Kiah trying to figure out how to get off the bench and contribute more, Geno asking her what she felt her strengths were. Kiah said she was most comfortable with rebounding and rim-protection, and Geno told her to concentrate on that. And from there she transformed from ineffective scorer to the defensive beast that we all came to know and love. I don't recall the WNBA being part of the discussion.
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I always thought she was the best rebounder and shotblocker on Breanna Stewart's team.
 
I think we need to add a little more detail as to when and why Kiah finally earned quality PT at UConn. Yes, Kiah always possessed a WNBA physique. But she had some of the worst hands I had ever seen. In her first two seasons at UConn, in limited playing time, Kiah would fumble rebounds, point blank layups and frequently get the ball stripped in the paint.

By her junior season Kiah had made significant progress in catching and holding onto the basketball. She became a member of the regular rotation about midway through her junior season, and was a fixture in the rotation during her senior season.

Once Kiah established herself as a defensive enforcer and rebounder extraordinare, I recall several occasions when Geno put Stewie, Stef & Kiah on the floor together, in what could only be described as an “unfair lineup.” Opposing teams couldn’t get off a shot within 10’ of the basket, and the possibility of pulling down any rebound against UConn was remote at best.
 
.-.
The undefeated 2013-14 team often played a frontline of Stef, Stewie, and Stokes. When Kiah came into the game, UConn often went on a big run. Why? Well, it wasn't scoring by Kiah. They basically shut out the other team. A typical sequence:

Block by Stokes, outlet to Jefferson, layup by Stewart.

Rebound by Stokes, outlet to Hartley, three by Mosqueda-Lewis.

Steal by Stokes, outlet to Jefferson, layup and one.

That never got old!
 
LarryLegend said:
key words: ”WNBA physique”

No one currently on the active roster possesses that, other than Edwards
Expand ...
I disagree. Ice Brady, Ayanna, Jana, Aubrey, and Azzi have WNBA bodies IMO. Paige need a little more bulk but she is almost there herself. Now, I did not say they were all WNBA ready, but they have the bodies for the W!
 
PJCLaw said:
I disagree. Ice Brady, Ayanna, Jana, Aubrey, and Azzi have WNBA bodies IMO. Paige need a little more bulk but she is almost there herself. Now, I did not say they were all WNBA ready, but they have the bodies for the W!
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Did you say the same about Stewie? If you take the height away, they’re built the same
 
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Reypl21 said:
Everytime I see Kiah Stokes' senior season blocks I get shocked. 147 blocks is psychotic.
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oldude said:
I think we need to add a little more detail as to when and why Kiah finally earned quality PT at UConn. Yes, Kiah always possessed a WNBA physique. But she had some of the worst hands I had ever seen. In her first two seasons at UConn, in limited playing time, Kiah would fumble rebounds, point blank layups and frequently get the ball stripped in the paint.

By her junior season Kiah had made significant progress in catching and holding onto the basketball. She became a member of the regular rotation about midway through her junior season, and was a fixture in the rotation during her senior season.

Once Kiah established herself as a defensive enforcer and rebounder extraordinare, I recall several occasions when Geno put Stewie, Stef & Kiah on the floor together, in what could only be described as an “unfair lineup.” Opposing teams couldn’t get off a shot within 10’ of the basket, and the possibility of pulling down any rebound against UConn was remote at best.
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And someone always yelled “up Kiah up” when she went for a rebound!
 
At one point in time, Iowa fans were hopeful that Kiah Stokes would stay home (and follow her Dad), joining Sam Logic in a monster recruiting class (by Iowa standards).
 
Geew1992 said:
Did you say the same about Stewie? If you take the height away, they’re built the same
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No, but that's the point, Stewie is 6"4" and PB is not. Do you see how effective a very skinny Kevin Durant is in the NBA? He is skinnier than Steph Curry, but because he is 6'10" he can get away with it. Stop changing the facts to make a point. I am talking about their current physical states and whether they are WNBA ready, not woulda, coulda, shoulda!
 
PJCLaw said:
I disagree. Ice Brady, Ayanna, Jana, Aubrey, and Azzi have WNBA bodies IMO. Paige need a little more bulk but she is almost there herself. Now, I did not say they were all WNBA ready, but they have the bodies for the W!
Expand ...
Note I said active roster. Patterson, Jana, and Fudd are all out for the season. Griffin and Bueckers (God love her) will take a pounding at the next level. Brady does have size and bulk as you point out.
 
HuskyNan said:
Languished on the bench?

View attachment 94540View attachment 94541
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Spot on! Kia was always a very productive bench star. The idea that if you don't start you are are not producing much is a common misguided perception. How many concluded Betts was a flop for example, and were not interested in pursuing her because she played 10 minutes a game in her first year. Looking at her per minute stats or overall PER numbers, it was clear that although she got fewer minutes than most expected, she was very effective when she was in the game.

The very top programs frequently have potential WNBA players coming off the bench in their first or second year. Most ultimately start but Kia was an example of a very good player who never was a regular starter but carved out a nice WNBA career with a championship ring to boot.
 
oldhusky said:
Spot on! Kia was always a very productive bench star. The idea that if you don't start you are are not producing much is a common misguided perception. How many concluded Betts was a flop for example, and were not interested in pursuing her because she played 10 minutes a game in her first year. Looking at her per minute stats or overall PER numbers, it was clear that although she got fewer minutes than most expected, she was very effective when she was in the game.

The very top programs frequently have potential WNBA players coming off the bench in their first or second year. Most ultimately start but Kia was an example of a very good player who never was a regular starter but carved out a nice WNBA career with a championship ring to boot.
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Actually she has two championship rings, the Ace's won in 2022 and 2023.
 
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Kia Stokes is one of my all-time favorite UConn players. Her demeanor never changed no matter what was happening around her. After her "adjustment period" she was awesome. and you could count on her to do the dirty work that others wouldn't/couldn't do.
 
Two WNBA rings, three in college, a championship somewhere in Europe (or Turkey?) last winter, and . . . high school? If being on a championship team makes you a winner, she's one in spades.
 
Gus Mahler said:
Kiah is one of the unsung heroes of that wonderful '14 team. Geno played only six players through much of the tournament, with her being the sixth-person. Not sure they would've won it without her.
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That year Stewart, Jefferson, KML, Hartley, Dolson, Stokes, Banks, Chong all averaged more than 15 minutes per game. Tuck did as well but was injured for almost the while season.
 
FanFromMaine said:
Once upon a time, Kiah Stokes was a UConn Husky. Doris Burke said of her that she had a WNBA physique yet she languished on the bench for 3 long years.

Finally, early in her Senior season, she grabbed 18 rebounds against Notre Dame, she started posting up and she swatted everything that came her way.

I have my own suppositions as to the cause of the change but the most probable reason seems to me to be is that she wanted to be in the WNBA after all.
Expand ...
Kia was critical in final four wins over Notre Dame, coming off the bench to stifle any and all comebacks the Irish were attempting. They went at her, hitting her in the face a few times. She winced, but persevered, the physically superior athlete.
 
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