UConn Huskies senior forward Aaliyah Edwards, despite having another year of eligibility remaining, has made the decision to challenge herself at the professional level.
In a recent announcement on Thursday, Edwards declared her intention to forgo her final year of college eligibility and enter the highly anticipated 2024 WNBA draft:
In a tweet, Edwards expressed her sentiment, “Last dance 💙🐺 ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11 #bleedblue #focusedforward #family.”
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou reports that Edwards is expected to be a top pick in the upcoming draft, slated for April 15. Despite the option to utilize her COVID-19 waiver for another year, she has opted to pursue a professional career.
Last dance 💙🐺
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11#bleedblue#focusedforward#family pic.twitter.com/qeFP2kP3Xa
— Aaliyah Edwards (@AaliyahEdwards_) March 21, 2024
In her announcement video, Edwards stated, “Although I’ve cherished every moment here at UConn, recognizing this as my final chapter, I am fully committed to bringing championship glory back to Storrs alongside my teammates. Let’s make this last dance unforgettable.”
Edwards rose to prominence as a pivotal figure for the Huskies during her sophomore year, solidifying her role as a regular starter by her junior season. Her contributions were instrumental in guiding UConn to consecutive Final Four appearances in 2021 and 2022, culminating in a national championship game appearance in the latter.
This season, Edwards has showcased remarkable performance, boasting career highs of 17.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game. With a shooting percentage of 59.4 from the field, she earned recognition as an honorable mention All-American by AP and a second-team selection by the USBWA.
Part of an exceptional senior class at UConn, Edwards joins forces with standout players Paige Bueckers and Nika Muhl. Bueckers, who missed the previous season due to injury, has confirmed her return for the 2024-25 campaign, while Muhl has announced that this season will mark her final stint with the Huskies.
The third-seeded Huskies begin their pursuit of another national championship with a matchup against No. 14 Jackson State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
