In the initial weeks of the Chicago Sky’s season, Azurá Stevens found herself frustrated. The seasoned forward was tired of being sidelined. After ending her Unrivaled season with a bone bruise, Stevens faced months away from basketball while navigating a difficult free-agency period and recovering from a persistent injury.
Her frustration grew as she watched her team take the court earlier in the month. She shared her feelings with Courtney Vandersloot, her teammate since 2020 with the Sky. Stevens felt the recovery was dragging on. Her knee troubled her, turning each day into a challenge. Vandersloot, who was herself 11 months into recovering from a torn ACL after a long career, offered Stevens the simplest advice: Keep going. The end is nearer than it seems.
These words offered little solace as Stevens watched from the bench during the Sky’s opening win of the season. They didn’t ease the boredom and frustration of rehabilitation. However, stepping onto the court last Saturday at Wintrust Arena, Stevens looked up at the championship banner she helped win and the fans cheering. At that moment, she realized Vandersloot was right.
“Even though there’s a day-to-day grind and it can be really taxing, if you keep walking in and stacking days, before you know it you’re going to reach your goals,” Stevens said to the Tribune. “It’s a blessing.”
Stevens’s career in the WNBA has been marred by injuries, missing numerous games over the years due to foot, back, arm, and knee issues. Her previous season with the Los Angeles Sparks marked an achievement as she played and started every regular season game for the first time. Yet, during the Unrivaled season, an unfortunate collision resulted in a bone bruise.
Bone bruises differ from other injuries. They don’t indicate knee fragility; they illustrate the impact’s severity. Healing a bone bruise requires supplements, strengthening exercises, and time. Stevens took this approach by resting and spending time with family, including a vacation to Jamaica. Yet, the inability to play intensified her frustration as the Sky began their season.
“It’s really frustrating, I can’t lie,” Stevens admitted. “This one has tested my patience the most because of the nature of the injury. But I think everything has a purpose. Injuries have always taught me about myself and aided my growth both personally and as a player.”
Stevens understands injury recovery well. However, the process with the Sky has evolved since the last time she played with them. The team now boasts a reinforced health and performance department led by director Jess Cohen, alongside additional player performance staff, including trainers and a massage therapist.
Previously, Stevens felt the team cared significantly about recovery, but they lacked comprehensive resources. Now, Stevens commends the expertise of the new staff for providing holistic care. The team’s new training facility aids in managing recovery logistics, making it easier to access external care when needed.
“They’re not just winging it,” Stevens said. “Having the new and improved staff is comforting. Without these resources, returning to Chicago wouldn’t have been as easy a decision.”
While Stevens did return to the court last week, her playing time remains restricted. Currently, her minutes cap at 16 per game. Despite this, Stevens maintains a positive perspective, viewing the restriction as an opportunity to hone efficiency.
“I’m not just going to be out there making mistakes for 40 minutes,” Stevens stated. “You have to focus on small details and make the most of every minute.”
Nonetheless, the restriction poses challenges for both Stevens and coach Tyler Marsh, who must strategically allocate her limited minutes to ensure success without overexertion. Marsh aims for Stevens to regain full capacity, aspiring for her to play between 25 to 28 minutes per game eventually. Currently, however, both coach and player are reassured by the temporary nature of these limitations.
Marsh is optimistic about Stevens’s gradual integration into a full workload. Eventually, the Sky will rely fully on Stevens as their central player. Stevens understands that returning to her peak performance is a matter of time and effort.