Kiah Stokes continued to assert herself as one of the most dominant defenders and rebounders in the WNBA. Her 3rd season saw her post some of the most impressive rebounding numbers of her career, and when coupled with her offensive bursts she was as dynamic a center as there is in the WNBA.
KIAH STOKES 2017 SEASON STATS
GM | MIN | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3FG | 3FGA | 3FG% | FTM | FTA | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
34 | 19.6 | 60 | 113 | .531 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 43 | 54 | .796 | 6.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 4.8 |
For Stokes, the 2017 season may not have yielded the offensive production she desired heading into the season, but her top performances were without question the best of her career.
Her 23 points in a home win over the Mercury on June 4 represented a new career-high, and that came along with 14 rebounds, her most-impressive double-double to date. Her career-high in rebounding would come in the very next game, when she pulled in 17 as the Liberty beat the Atlanta Dream.
Over the course of the season, Stokes ranked 11th in the league in blocks with 1.1 per game, and finished 17th in rebounding at 6.3 rpg. After just three full professional seasons, Stokes already ranks 3rd in franchise history with 144 blocked shots and is 10th with 634 rebounds. She needs just 12 more blocked shots to become the Liberty all-time leader.
The offseason, where Stokes will return to Turkey, this time suiting up for Botas, will be spent further honing her offensive game. If she is able to push her scoring average up to double figures, she is capable of recording a double-double nearly every night.
KIAH STOKES 2017 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
June 2 vs. Dallas
Posted her 1st double-double of the season, scoring 13 points with 15 rebounds, in a home win over Dallas. Started a stretch of 3-straight games with at least 14 rebounds.
June 7 vs. Atlanta
Hauled in a career-high 17 rebounds to go along with 7 points and a pair of blocked shots as the Liberty eased past the Atlanta Dream on School Day at The Garden.
July 30 at Chicago
Submitted her 3rd double-double of the season, scoring 10 points while finishing one shy of her career-high with 16 rebounds, as the Liberty picked up a road win over the Sky.