Beyond the Game: Azurá Stevens’ Heart for the Community Earns Her the WNBA’s Highest Honor.BT

Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens wins Seasonlong WNBA Cares Community Assist Award

• WNBA

The WNBA has chosen the Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens as the winner of the 2024 Seasonlong WNBA Cares Community Assist Award.

Nov 16, 2024, 12:00 AM GMT+7

The WNBA has named the Los Angeles Sparks’ Azurá Stevens the winner of the 2024 Seasonlong WNBA Cares Community Assist Award, honoring her for her extensive efforts to support and uplift youth across Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

Stevens, who just completed her seventh WNBA season, participated in local events throughout the 2024 season, including:

• Air West Skills Clinic: On May 8, Stevens worked with youth on fundamental basketball drills and participated in a Q&A session.
• Shoes That Fit Community Shoe Drive: On May 22, Stevens helped distribute 900 pairs of new shoes to the entire student body of South Park Elementary School in an underserved community of South Central Los Angeles.
• UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital Visit: On July 15, Stevens made one of several visits to UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital to spend one-on-time with patients and engage with parents and nurses.
• Jr. Sparks x Shiekh Impact: On Aug. 10, Stevens attended a Jr. Sparks x Shiekh Impact back-to-school event for more than 100 girls in Compton. Additionally, on Sept. 16, she helped host a Jr. Sparks clinic and shared tips about healthy habits.
• Read to Achieve: On Sept. 20 at South Park Elementary School, Stevens visited classrooms, read to students and answered questions about being a professional athlete.

On receiving the honor, Stevens said:

Community outreach is so important because, without a strong community, we wouldn’t be where we are today. The people around us help shape our identities, and where I grew up, my community played a huge role in making me the person I am today. I’m incredibly grateful to have been embraced by the Los Angeles community, and I’m excited to continue giving back and deepening my connection here. It’s an honor to be able to inspire, serve and impact the next generation, just as my community did for me.

To recognize Stevens for earning the 2024 Seasonlong WNBA Cares Community Assist Award, the league will donate $20,000 to the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County in North Carolina.

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