Edwards feels ready for WNBA moment

Canadian was picked sixth in Monday’s draft

Aaliyah Edwards had a brief moment of reflection before her name was called as the sixth pick in the 2024 WNBA draft Monday.

“This is your moment,” the Kingston native told herself. She was about to become the newest member of the Washington Mystics.

She hugged her mother Jackie on the way to the stage, then the rest of her family, coaches and teammates before looping back to her mother for a second hug that lasted a little bit longer.

“I said, ‘You got this?’ She said, ‘I got it, Mom,’ ” Jackie Edwards“She really just said she was really proud of me and that I’ve made it,” Aaliyah Edwards said.

“It’s not easy coming from Canada and coming to the (U.S.) and trying to make a name for yourself and make an impact, which is the most important thing for me.”

Edwards started making a name for herself playing high school basketball at Crestwood Preparatory College in North York, leading the school to three Ontario championships. ESPN ranked her the 23rdbest prospect in the 2020 high school class.

She went on to star alongside Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd for the Connecticut Huskies, who reached the NCAA Final Four before falling short to Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Clark was selected with the No. 1 pick Monday by the Indiana Fever.

Edwards averaged 17.6 points on 59.3 per cent shooting in her senior year at UConn, adding 9.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game. She was named a first-team all-star in the Big East.

The 21-year-old forward is the highest Canadian selected in the WNBA draft since 2002, when Stacey Dales, of Collingwood, Ont., went third to the Mystics.

“It’s crazy to be among five Canadians now in the (WNBA) and to kind of push the game forward and elevate the game back in Canada.”

Edwards joins Kia Nurse, Natalie Achonwa, Bridget Carleton and Laeticia Amihere as the five Canadians currently in the WNBA. She hopes to play alongside them at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer.

“She’s going to be a great addition to our organization,” Mystics GM Mike Thibault said.

“Going into this rookie season, I know it’s not going to be easy,” Edwards said. “Giving myself grace is going to be the most important thing but also knowing my worth and knowing how I can help the team be successful is going to be what I really stick my head to.”