Edwards a semifinalist for the Naismith Award

UConn women’s basketball forward Aaliyah Edwards is among 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Women’s College Player of the Year award.

Edwards, a junior, is averaging 16.6 points and 9.2 rebounds while shooting 57.3 percent from the field this season. She is coming off a strong performance in the Big East Tournament, averaging 19.3 points and 13.3 rebounds to earn Most Outstanding Player as the Huskies won the event at Mohegan Sun Arena.

She was also named Big

East’s Most Improved Player and the was selected First Team All-Big East.

One of two Huskies to play every game, Edwards has 14 double-doubles this season as having just three in her career. And all came during her freshman season.

Edwards, from Kingston, Ontario, scored in double digits 23 times this season and her 26 points against Florida State on Dec. 18 is a career high. She also set a career high with 20 rebounds against Creighton on Dec. 28.

Against Top 25 opponents, Edwards is averaging 18.3 points and 10.5 rebounds.

The four finalist for the Naismith Award will be announced on March 21. The Fan Vote to help narrow the list down to the final honoree will open Tuesday, March 21, and close Tuesday, March 28.

The fan vote will account for five percent of the overall final vote. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 29 during the Final Four.

The other semifinalists: Aliyah Boston of South Carolina, Cameron Brink of Stanford, Caitlin Clark of Iowa, Mackenzie Holmes of Indiana, Ashley Joens of Iowa State, Elizabeth Kitley of Virginia Tech, Alissa Pili of Utah, Angel Reese of LSU, and Maddy Siegrist of Villanova. Boston was the Naismith winner last year.

Paige Bueckers won the award in 2021. Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird and Rebecca Lobo are past winners.

Edwards