A Dream Realized: Aaliyah Edwards Prepares for Life-Changing Moment at WNBA Draft

The Ontario native had a great four years as a member of the UConn Huskies, and now she is expected to be selected in the first round in the Monday WNBA selection.

With the illustrious NCAA school, the 6-foot-3 big was a two-time all-American and concluded her senior season with career highs of 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing pro and playing in the WNBA,” Edwards told reporters last week in a Zoom availability. “To have my name among those lists and those rankings of projected top five, it’s crazy. If you were to ask me when I was 10 years old, I’d be like, ‘No way.‘

Simultaneously, it humbles me because, despite my name being known, it is really only a testament to the countless hours of labor and dedication I devote to the game I love. I will thus simply enter the draft feeling fortunate for whatever result comes my way and really appreciative of the recognition that comes with it.”

On March 21, Edwards announced her candidacy for the draft, calling the most recent NCAA women’s basketball tournament her “final dance.” Before UConn lost a close game against Iowa in the end, she helped lead the Huskies to a Final Four trip.

The 21-year-old Edwards declared she was prepared to move on, giving up the last year of her COVID-19 eligibility for college.

“It’s been a big dream for me, not only just how much I’ve achieved here at UConn, but also just making that step to go across the border,” she said. “It’s not an easy decision to make, to leave your family and to leave what you call home to come into a new environment and a new change.

“I was able to develop not only my skills on the basketball court, but also (interpersonal) skills. … I can say UConn really opened a lot of doors for me, and it really helped me be pro ready and ready for the next chapter of my career.”

Edwards might make history by being the first Canadian to be called in the first round for two years in a row. In the previous year’s draft, Laeticia Amihere was selected eighth overall.

At UConn, Edwards had a breakout junior season, averaging 16.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest while playing a key role in the Huskies’ victory despite injuries.

In addition to being selected all-Big East first team, Big East most improved player, and Big East Tournament most outstanding player in 2022–2023; she also received AP third team all-America honors.

“Did I expect this? No,” Edwards said of her individual accolades. “I’m a team player so I’ll do anything for the team to get the win at the end of the day and to impact any way that I can, so the individual awards and accolades are just a piece of recognition that’s raising my game.”

“I think Aaliyah is going to be a great pro,” Canadian senior women’s assistant coach Steve Baur said in a phone interview. “I think defensively she’s taken some huge strides in the last few years. … but I think her offensive game is where she’s really evolved.

“She’s a much more dynamic offensive player. And I think if you give Aaliyah two to three more years in pro context, she’s going to continue to expand her range shooting, and I think she’s going to continue to expand her offensive game.”

Michael Bartlett, president and CEO of Canada Basketball, claims that Edwards’ ascent shows what younger Canadian talent is capable of.

“It’s a big deal for our young athletes … and it’s a big deal, I think, for the slate of athletes that are coming through the pipeline and will find themselves in WNBA drafts well into the future,” Bartlett said in a phone interview. “You consider athletes who have not even begun their NCAA careers, such Toby Fournier, Syla Swords, and Jasmine Bascoe.

“It also just further emphasizes the fact that our Canadian talent on the women’s side, just like on the men’s side, this isn’t fringe talent. This is build-your-team-around-this talent. This is lottery pick talent coming up through the pipeline.”

Reporting by The Associated Press.

 

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