Somewhat delayed in her arrival to the scoring column, Azurá Stephens watched as her first basket sank through the net at the three-minute mark of the second period. Over the two quarters and change that followed, the 2021 WNBA champion’s contributions couldn’t have been more flawlessly timed. Using a 17-point, eight-rebound second half to push the red-hot Seattle Storm to their limits, Stephens gets creative, showcasing her handle before tossing in a short entry pass, potentially setting up a big-to-big connection. Unguarded along the left 3-point corner, Stephens rewards her teammates’ unselfishness, turning a hockey assist into a catch-and-shoot triple, giving the Los Angeles Sparks a two-point lead with six minutes remaining. The Sparks — missing key frontcourt pieces due to both injuries and Olympics obligations, fought valiantly in a six-point loss on July 16, 2024. Netting her highest-scoring performance since August of 2020, Stephens was superb, recording 24 points (on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting), 15 rebounds, one assist, and three 3-pointers. · Jul 16, 2024