The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
UConn alums make pro debuts in state
UNCASVILLE — With each passing day it seems as if another wardrobe change is in the cards for former UConn teammates Kia Nurse and Azurá Stevens.
Their long weekend back in Connecticut began with the two of them donning a cap and gown as they received their degrees at graduation ceremonies along with Gabby Williams much to the delight of their families and coaches. On Monday, Nurse And Stevens made their WNBA debuts at a preseason game at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Nurse suited up for the New York Liberty, while Stevens came out hitting three quick shots in her first game with the Dallas Wings. Stevens had a gamehigh 19 points in Dallas’ 76-69 victory. Nurse finished with 10 points and four rebounds.
“It worked out really well that it was the day after graduation so I could be around here,” Nurse said.
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I’m really fortunate to have the opportunity to get back to Connecticut to graduate and walk but also really excited to get going with this.”
Nurse, Stevens and Williams had some time to get together leading into the WNBA Draft where Williams was selected by Chicago with the fourth overall pick, Stevens was selected two picks later and Nurse was taken 10th overall. Since that night, they’ve had to deal with finishing up their final few classes and then headed off to their first professional training camps.
“It was pretty cool,’ Stevens said. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back for graduation, but I saw we were playing here so I was kind of excited that I could come back and enjoy that moment. It was a long journey, a long four years. A lot of changes, a unique path but it is great to get my degree and walk across the stage with my family there.
“It’s been a lot. Life has been going by fast, but it has been pretty fun. I’ve (experienced) a lot of exciting things and the beginning of my career is starting here so it is really exciting.”
Stevens laughed when asked if she told Nurse she would be waiting in the lane to block her shot as they squared off on a court
in the state where they were teammates on the nation’s top-ranked team.
“We just talked about how training camp is going for each of us,” Stevens said. “I talked to Gabby a lot as well, so it is just exciting that we are all taking this step together.”
Nurse is one of five UConn alums currently on the New York roster, although Bria Hartley and Kiah Stokes were not among the Liberty players suiting up on Monday night. Kelly Faris, a former first-round pick of the Connecticut Sun, did get to return to the court she knows pretty well as did perennial WNBA All-Star Tina Charles. Faris had five points while Charles added four points and four rebounds.
“It is funny when you look at it. I started counting and said, five?” Faris said of the WNBA-leading number of UConn products on the New York roster. “It is fun for me. It is exciting because it is like getting back
with family, you are on the same page.”
Faris is just happy to have a chance to play basketball again after being one of the last cuts by the Sun at the end of last year’s training camp.
“One door closes and you have to look for the next one to open and you have to work for it,” Faris said.
Stevens joins UConn graduates Saniya Chong, a second-year guard, and Natalie Butler, a rookie center who was the nation’s leading rebounder while playing her final collegiate season at George Mason. Chong finished with six points, four rebounds and three assists while Butler had four points.
“I love the opportunity to play with this team,” Butler said. “I am going to keep working, that has been my motto since day one and it has been working out well. Worry about the things that are in your control and take it from there. I would love to be a part of this fantastic (franchise).”