{"id":36349,"date":"2025-07-25T13:03:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T13:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/36349\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T13:03:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T13:03:10","slug":"aziaha-james-college-career-stats-all-about-dallas-wings-rookies-nc-state-record-and-achievements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/36349\/","title":{"rendered":"Aziaha James College Career Stats: All About Dallas Wings Rookie\u2019s NC State Record and Achievements"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Aziaha James was drafted 12th overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA draft, GM Curt Miller was surprised she had been for so long. But, for sure, it was a steal, and James herself was well aware of it as she shared, \u201cYou got your dog.\u201d And since then, she\u2019s been on a mission to prove her worth.<\/p>\n

But her journey wasn\u2019t rid of challenges. First, it was rookie struggles, then new head coach Chris Koclanes, and then, it was only three players returning from last year. But despite facing multiple rookie walls early on, James credits her veteran teammates for helping her stay locked in.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to just give it up to my vets,\u201d she said. \u201cI hit a lot of rookie walls, and they helped me push through it.\u201d And yes, that\u2019s true because AJ struggled miserably in her first seven games as she averaged just 2.9 points per game while shooting a tough 28% from the field. But that changed when playing against Connecticut\u2013 she dropped a career-high 17 points. She has not looked back ever since. But those numbers aren\u2019t new for the young guard.<\/p>\n

ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n

Who is Aziaha James?<\/p>\n

Hailing from Virginia Beach, James is a North Carolina State University alumna turning 23 in November 2025. But 3 months in, she\u2019s already a popular name at W. How could she not be after putting up a 28-point performance against the Phoenix Mercury? She did that playing alongside No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers, and she\u2019s 23 by the end of the game.<\/p>\n

So, you know the kind of dominance she\u2019s got. But for James, it\u2019s not about competing with others; it\u2019s about keeping up the hopes of her late brother alive, who once dreamt about playing basketball.<\/p>\n

Aziaha James Career Overview<\/p>\n

The Wings guard grew up playing basketball alongside her late brother, earning All-Tidewater honors and dominating the local hoops scene.\u00a0And just hours before his tragic death in March 2020 due to an accidental shooting, he had watched Aziaha compete in a regional championship. So while the loss devastated her, it also became a source of fuel for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always talking to myself and to my brother,\u201d she shared. \u201cI hear him saying, \u2018Come on, you got this\u2026 let that 3 go.\u2019\u201d And that inner voice had framed James to unfold into her best form. Just consider, she earned All-ACC Freshman Team honors in 2022, then blossomed into a scoring powerhouse tallying 17.9 points per game as a senior while earning First-Team All-ACC selections in both 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n

And not just that, she even shined during the 2024 NCAA Tournament, helping NC State reach the Final Four after dropping 29 points while earning a reputation as a clutch performer. So, you know why Wings GM felt her getting selected as 12th was a steal for them.<\/p>\n

Aziaha James Year-by-Year College Stats<\/p>\n

AJ\u2019s journey at NC State no doubt is a masterclass in patience, persistence, and self-belief. After all, it all started when she came in as a freshman in 2021. But just like her rookie career at W, her freshman year saw limited minutes as she didn\u2019t start a single game, averaging 4.2 points and 1.6 rebounds across 9 minutes. But still, she managed to earn All-ACC Freshman Team honors, a quiet indication of what was to come.<\/p>\n

So while her game didn\u2019t explode right away, those early seasons were foundational as she soaked up knowledge, developed her court IQ, and yes, stayed loyal to the program while others might have preferred entering the transfer portal. And that decision proved a game changer for both her and the Wolfpack as by junior year, she was one of the most electrifying guards<\/a>. She started all 38 games, averaged 16.8 points along with 4.6 rebounds, led the team in scoring, and became the heart of NC State\u2019s improbable Final Four run in 2024.<\/p>\n

Her ability to rise in big moments became her calling card, especially in the NCAA Tournament, where she earned the Regional Most Outstanding Player honor after back-to-back explosive performances against Stanford and Texas (29 and 27 respectively). And even in her senior year, she saw an upsurge in graph with a career-high 36-point game against Duke and another First-Team All-ACC nod. \u201cWaiting your turn\u201d is often a clich\u00e9, but in Aziaha\u2019s case, it was her superpower.<\/p>\n

Aziaha James Career Totals and Averages<\/p>\n

Across four years, James didn\u2019t just evolve statistically, she transformed mentally and emotionally. And by the time she left NC State, she already had over 1,500 points, a Final Four legacy, and a reputation as a two-way guard with pro-ready instincts.<\/p>\n

With a total of 1589 points, she became the 12th leading scorer for NC State. While her 477 rebounds and 289 assists did not make any record books, her 3-point field goals made (184) placed her 7th all-time in the program. The 130 games played was 8th best too.<\/p>\n

\"article-image\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n

USA Today via Reuters<\/p>\n

Then moving to the pros, the Wings scored 5.8 more points per 100 possessions when she was on the floor. So, you know how she\u2019s coming off a college career where she averaged nearly 18 points and 5 rebounds in her final season, but is already taking over the pros at W.<\/p>\n

Aziaha James Playing Style and Impact<\/p>\n

AJ has quickly become one of those players you can\u2019t help but root for. And it all had started from the moment she stepped into the Wings locker room\u2014 she brought the edge that the team desperately needed. \u201cI feel like I play with grit\u2014and this whole team has that dog mentality,\u201d she said during training camp, and it\u2019s shown every time she hits the floor.<\/p>\n

But James isn\u2019t just hustle and heart\u2014she\u2019s also proving herself as a reliable offensive weapon. And her 28-point eruption against Mercury, including a perfect 7-for-7 first half, showed just how dangerous she can be when she catches fire. But even in shorter stints, she\u2019s sparked momentum swings with quick scoring bursts, timely assists, and a fearless drive to the rim.<\/p>\n

ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever my number is called, I\u2019m ready,\u201d she said\u2014and she means it. Her late-June five-game stretch of 13.6 points per game on 50% shooting from three speaks volumes about her growth and confidence. But what makes Aziaha even more exciting is how fast she\u2019s adjusting to the pace and pressure of the WNBA.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next for Aziaha James?<\/p>\n

Well, AJ is not just about potential\u2014it\u2019s about proof, as evident in her being the 12th overall pick and draft-night surprise to becoming one of the most impactful rookie guards in the league. But now the challenge for her is to keep up with the momentum. But as the HC puts it better, she\u2019s someone who, \u201cputs in the extra work,\u201d and it shows.<\/p>\n

ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n

Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n

Now she\u2019ll be focusing on maintaining her offensive efficiency for the Wings, as two of the vets are out with injuries early on.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, James is poised to become a central figure in shaping Dallas\u2019s identity\u2014a young, scrappy team driven by two-way play and fearless execution. She\u2019ll need to keep embracing that \u201cdog mentality\u201d she spoke of on draft night.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Aziaha James was drafted 12th overall by the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA draft, GM Curt…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":36350,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[2968,99,434],"class_list":["post-36349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wnba","tag-npstrans","tag-sports","tag-wnba"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}