Former UConn star Kiah Stokes returns to Connecticut as ‘secret weapon’ to Las Vegas Aces’ undefeated start

Kiah Stokes couldn’t help but smile when she thought about about returning to Connecticut this week for two games against the Sun.

The last time the former UConn star was at Mohegan Sun Arena she was spraying champagne with her Las Vegas Aces teammates as they celebrated their first WNBA championship.

“It’s great. It’s always love when I come here,” Stokes said. “I think the fans, they might not like the Aces, but at least they like me — at least that’s the vibe I get. So I’m pretty happy. I’ve always felt a warm welcome here. And of course, knowing that we were here last year and we won, it’s a great feeling to be back.”

While it was the first professional title for the Aces and the city of Las Vegas, it wasn’t the first trophy for Stokes, as she won three national titles with the Huskies from 2011-15. And it also wasn’t her last; just a few months after knocking off the Sun, Stokes won the EuroLeague championship with her Fenerbahçe club overseas alongside former UConn teammate Breanna Stewart.

Now Stokes and the Aces are looking to the become the first WNBA team to win repeat titles since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002. Offseason additions of all-time great Candace Parker and two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark certainly help their chances. Following a 90-84 victory over the Sun on Tuesday night, the Aces appear on track to do so, currently with an undefeated, league-best 7-0 record.

Stokes started for the Aces during their championship run a season ago, but the addition of Parker moved her to the bench. Coach Becky Hammon says that’s added to her team’s depth, something that was discussed as a concern at times last season.

“One of the most selfless players I have ever been around,” Hammon said of Stokes. “She’s not good defensively, she’s like elite defensively. She is elite. And so her ability to alter shots but also guard littles on the perimeter is a luxury (because) we can play with lineups.

“But having Candace Parker come in and moving her to the bench after she just helped win us a championship and have her be accepting of that role speaks to her character and how badly she wants to win. And a lot of times players might give you a little grief as a head coach, but she’s just the ultimate pro, like she’s just — Kiah’s something special.”

Hammon has strategically played the pair together at times as well. On Tuesday night, Las Vegas opened the second and fourth quarters with both Parker and Stokes on the floor. Stokes has relished the opportunity to learn from Parker, who has been named league MVP twice, won two championships and is a seven-time All-Star.

“I mean, Candace Parker is Candace Parker. A great player, really smart, knows the game well. She’s basically accomplished everything that I’ve ever wanted to,” Stokes said. “So just having her as kind of a mentor, a guide just to really break it down, black and white. She sees the game well and she wants us to play well and win. So I think just looking at her for leadership, guidance, and obviously, she’s been through it all, so someone that I’ve always looked up to and it’s kind of incredible that we actually get to play together. But yeah, just knowing that she’s done what she’s done, definitely one that you need to listen to.”

Stokes played 17 minutes off the bench on Tuesday night, finishing with four points, three rebounds and one steal. A few games prior on the Aces’ road trip, she had a game-sealing block against Rhyne Howard in a win over the Atlanta Dream. But Stokes’ teammates will tell you that her value goes well beyond what the numbers or key storylines show.

“I always say it. Kiah’s the anchor to our defense,” A’ja Wilson said. “A lot of people say that it’s me, but I pass that to Kiah 100%. She is just always at the right place at the right time and trust her, like guards trust us and then I trust Kiah when she’s behind me. So she literally holds it down. She’s one of our glue players that sticks us together. And the things that she does on the court may not show up in a stat sheet, but it’s so helpful in possessions and like just to have her coming off the bench is pretty, it’s incredible.”

“Kiah does a lot of the little things,” Clark added. “She’s kind of like the silent assassin, a little secret weapon — not even a secret because everybody knows that — but just in what she’s able to do.”

Stokes and the Aces will rematch with the Sun (6-2) on Thursday night, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Boston and Amazon Prime Video.