WNBA DRAFT

April 14, 2025

Aziaha James

Dallas Wings

Q. What is it about NC State that you believed helped prepare you for this moment, and if you were to speak to others that were thinking about making the same decision, how would you address that?

AZIAHA JAMES: The culture. It starts with the fans. They're not just fans, they're our family. Leading to our coaching staff, they push us day in and day out. Leading to the teammates and the players, the former players that come back to the games and teach us things. And the players that's on the team, the togetherness, the chemistry that we play with each other on and off the court.

For the future people that's looking at NC State, just go to a home game and just feel the energy and the love that we bring and just see for yourself.

Q. You're a player with a lot of edge and that's something that has carried you to this point. What is it that you're going to also be able to take with you to the W, especially with everything that we know the W is looking forward to this year?

AZIAHA JAMES: You know, just being that dog, just finding any keys that Dallas needs and me putting that effort for them, just pushing myself, pushing my teammates, being that energetic rookie, motivating my vets, being that sponge, learning new information from my vets, and when my number is called, whenever that is, I'm being ready.

Q. You've always been a killer on offense. What's your personal mindset when you've got the ball in your hands and that shot clock is winding down, how you expect to bring that to the WNBA?

AZIAHA JAMES: Whenever that shot clock is running down, trying to find that bucket. If I can't find that bucket, finding that open teammate, whatever gets the team a good bucket, and just keeping going.

Q. Can you please just talk about in this day and age of NIL and athletes more noticeably building their brands, how have you specifically adapted an entrepreneurial mindset for yourself, and how will you take that into the W with you?

AZIAHA JAMES: Just watching the ones before me, just how they present themselves, and I feel I can present myself the same way. I feel like my brand just shows a lot, and it tells you I'm a dog. I feel like I surround myself -- in embracing my brother, with his passing, I feel like that inspires me to keep going, and I feel like that's going to take me a long way.

Q. You talk about being a dog. You're joining a team in Dallas that has a couple of them with DiJonai, NaLyssa Smith, Arike on offense and now Paige and yourself. Just talk about how that group is really going to help you and now you can also help them.

AZIAHA JAMES: Just having all dogs on the team is going to be crazy. I can't wait to experience it. I can't wait for them to push me around, make me better. I just can't wait to just get all the information from them.

Q. When you look at your career at NC State and everything you've accomplished and now being on this stage, what would you say to first-year, first-day Aziaha?

AZIAHA JAMES: Girl, there's a lot coming your way. A lot of doors are going to be closing but more is going to be opening. Stay patient, keep working. You're going to get your turn, and the light is going to shine on you one day.

Q. NC State was the only school in the first round to have two picks. What was that like to be able to do it with Saniya tonight, and what does it say about what Coach [Wes] Moore has been building in Raleigh?

AZIAHA JAMES: It shows a lot. I love that girl to death. We call each other our twins and we're sisters for life. I told her she's going to be my flower girl at my wedding. We just love each other so much. We work hard. We have ups and downs. We have so much adversity coming towards us, and just to see both our names called in the first round, it shows a lot. It shows a lot about Coach Moore's character, how he pushes us every day and how he motivates us and not only us but the rest of the team. That shows a lot.

Q. You keep on elevating stages, it just gets bigger and bigger, from winning state championships at Princess Anne, playing for Coach [Darnell] Dozier, being from Hampton Roads. As you reflect on your journey, what stands out about that part, high school, middle school and your time here in the Hampton Roads area?

AZIAHA JAMES: It shows that I'm an on-course player. I came from middle school winning all three championships in middle school, winning all four state championships in high school, then coming to college and being humble and I didn't leave or just give up. I stayed the course. I motivated myself, and I kept working. It shows a lot about myself.

Q. You spoke about being excited about being in a group with a room full of dogs. So much newness in Dallas, new head coach, new GM, new stadium, all of that. What do you think you're going to bring to the team for this upcoming season?

AZIAHA JAMES: You know, I feel like they bring a lot to the team already. I feel like I can just find my space, be myself, see what we're missing, and I feel like I can fill that void. I'm ready to be that rookie that brings a clapping hand in practice and on the bench. I'm ready for my number to be called. I'm ready to just be there and just feel the experience and just be ready.