Azania Stewart comes out of retirement to sign with Leicester Riders

GB Olympian Azania Stewart is coming out of retirement to sign with Leicester Riders in the WBBL, as first reported by Focus Hoops.

The 31-year-old is part of GB’s 100-cap club and decided to retire in 2018 having made her senior international debut nine years earlier.

“This opportunity called and it has to be for a reason,” said Stewart via official release. “There’s going to be a point in time when they stop calling as I get older. I told the coaches what I can offer the team and they already have a great establishment built.

“The Riders are in a great position in the league, which takes the pressure off doing more than I need to do because of my age and not playing for three years. I know I can bring my veteran experience and basketball IQ to the team.

“I’m excited to be back! I went to watch a Riders game and there were a lot of different emotions. Excitement, a bit of anxiousness, but overall I felt really good about my decision.”

Stewart won a silver medal with England at the Commonwealth Games and had recently been practicing with the GB Senior Women, whilst on duty as the COVID-19 officer during the international bubbles.

Ella Clark has missed the past two games after the start of the netball season with Loughborough Lightning, while there are rumours of other departures.

Update: Kate Oliver and Sara Hinriksdottir both left the club with Americans Maya Brewer and Amber Smith signed as replacements.

Listen to the full Hoopsfix podcast with Stewart from 2018 below:

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