Kiah Stokes
Kiah Irene Stokes (born March 30, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was selected by the New York Liberty with the No. 11 pick in the first round of the 2015 WNBA draft. Stokes is a two-time WNBA champion, having won titles with the Aces in 2022 and 2023, and she also won a EuroLeague championship with Fenerbahçe in 2023.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Stokes has built her reputation as a defensive specialist and rebounder throughout a career that has spanned the WNBA, top European leagues, and USA Basketball national teams. 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 from 2013 to 2015.
Early Life and Background
Kiah Irene Stokes was born on March 30, 1993, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA. She 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, giving Kiah a strong athletic lineage.
According to her father, when Kiah was four years old, he signed her up for a YMCA track team designed for five- and six-year-olds. Despite being younger than everyone else, she competed in the 60-yard dash and beat the field by 20 yards, an early sign of the athletic ability that would later define her career. She attended Linn-Mar High School in Marion, Iowa, where she became one of the top prospects in the country.
Stokes was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2011, capping a standout high school career. She also represented the United States at the international level, playing on the USA Basketball U16 National Team that won the FIBA Americas U16 Championship Gold Medal in Mexico City in 2009.
Path to Basketball
Stokes entered the University of Connecticut in 2011 as part of one of the most decorated recruiting classes in women’s college basketball history. She quickly carved out a role as a defensive presence in the paint, and as a freshman she was named to the All-BIG EAST Rookie Team alongside teammate Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. That season she averaged 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 13.4 minutes per game, while leading the Huskies in blocks in 13 of 38 contests.
As a sophomore in 2012–13, Stokes helped Connecticut post a 35–4 record and capture the 2013 NCAA National Championship, the first of three straight titles she would win in Storrs. Over her four seasons with the Huskies, she appeared in four consecutive Final Fours, cementing her reputation as a reliable frontcourt player on one of the most dominant dynasties in college basketball history.
Kiah Stokes Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
Stokes was selected by the New York Liberty with the 11th overall pick in the 2015 WNBA draft and immediately earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team and the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team. During her rookie season she averaged 58.8 percent from the field and 65.4 percent from the free throw line, while contributing 6.3 points per game and establishing herself as one of the league’s most efficient interior players.
Outside the WNBA, Stokes began her international career, playing in Turkey and South Korea. She suited up for the Cheongju KB Stars in 2015–16, then joined Beşiktaş for the 2016–17 season, gaining valuable experience in top European competitions alongside her developing role with the Liberty.
New York Liberty Era (2015–2021)
Stokes spent her first six WNBA seasons with the New York Liberty, becoming a fixture in the team’s frontcourt rotation. She was known for her rebounding, shot-blocking, and ability to guard multiple positions, helping the Liberty reach the 2016 WNBA playoffs during her second professional season.
Beyond her on-court work, Stokes launched a podcast called Hangtime on the Underdog Sports Podcast Network, which became the first podcast ever hosted by a WNBA player, expanding her influence off the floor while she continued to develop as a professional with the Liberty.
Fenerbahçe and European Success (2018–2024)
In 2018, Stokes joined Fenerbahçe in Turkey, beginning the most decorated stretch of her international career. With Fenerbahçe she won multiple Turkish Super League titles in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, as well as Turkish Cup championships in 2019 and 2020 and a Turkish Presidential Cup in 2019.
The pinnacle of her European run came in 2023, when she helped Fenerbahçe win the EuroLeague Women’s championship and followed it up with a FIBA Europe SuperCup Women title. In 2024 she completed the Turkish Triple Crown with Fenerbahçe, cementing her legacy as one of the most successful American players in recent EuroLeague history.
Las Vegas Aces Era (2022–Present)
Stokes joined the Las Vegas Aces and quickly became part of a championship core, winning back-to-back WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023. She also contributed to the Aces’ Commissioner’s Cup championship in 2022, adding another major trophy to her resume.
Known for her defensive intelligence, rebounding, and screening, Stokes has remained a steady veteran presence in the Aces’ rotation. Her championship pedigree from both UConn and her European clubs has made her a trusted locker-room leader in Las Vegas.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Stokes’ signature achievements are three consecutive NCAA championships from 2013 to 2015, two WNBA titles with the Aces, and a EuroLeague championship with Fenerbahçe in 2023. She was also part of the first-ever USA Basketball U16 national team that won gold in 2009, marking the beginning of her long history with USA Basketball.
Kiah Stokes Career Wins
Kiah Stokes has assembled one of the most decorated resumes among active American women’s basketball players, with championships at the NCAA, WNBA, and EuroLeague levels. She is a three-time NCAA champion, two-time WNBA champion, and EuroLeague champion, along with multiple Turkish domestic titles.
NCAA Highlights
Stokes won three consecutive NCAA national championships with the University of Connecticut in 2013, 2014, and 2015, appearing in four straight Final Fours during her career in Storrs. She was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and earned Big East All-Rookie Team honors in 2012.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to her WNBA and EuroLeague titles, Stokes won Turkish Super League championships in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023, Turkish Cup titles in 2019 and 2020, and a Turkish Presidential Cup in 2019. She also earned a FIBA Europe SuperCup Women title in 2023 and completed the Turkish Triple Crown in 2024.
Kiah Stokes Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Kiah Stokes is the daughter of Greg Stokes and Julie Saddler, and she has one brother, Darius. Her father Greg was an all-American basketball player at the University of Iowa and played in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers, while also winning gold with the 1983 USA Pan American Games Team, giving Kiah a deep family connection to the sport.
Personal Life
Stokes grew up in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area and attended Linn-Mar High School in nearby Marion. She continues to be active off the court through her Hangtime podcast and her presence on social media, where she engages with fans of the WNBA and women’s basketball.
2025 Season Performance
Stokes entered the 2025 WNBA season continuing her role with the Las Vegas Aces, where she remained a key frontcourt contributor and defensive anchor. Her combination of rebounding, shot-blocking, and championship experience kept her in the team’s regular rotation as the Aces pursued another deep playoff run.
With her statistical production tracked through the end of the 2025 season, Stokes continued to provide steady interior play for Las Vegas, drawing on the poise that carried her through three NCAA titles, two WNBA championships, and a EuroLeague crown. Her veteran presence remained a stabilizing factor for the Aces as they navigated a competitive league landscape.