Kingston, Ont.’s Aaliyah Edwards strives to be Canada’s next WNBA star – Kingston | 24CA News
It’s been a very long time since Aaliyah Edwards has performed basketball on the court docket at Frontenac Secondary School.
The former Frontenac standout led the Falcons to metropolis, regional and provincial championship titles.
“All of her success really isn’t a surprise to any of us, because the moment she walked in the building we knew she was special and we knew she had a lot to give,” Falcons basketball coach, Karlyn Pixley stated.
Along the best way, Edwards represented Ontario and ultimately Canada, all by Grade 10.
“It’s one of those things that it is special to say that we coached her but I think I learned more from her than she learned from me,” Pixley stated.
For her final two years of highschool, Edwards transferred to Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto earlier than being recruited by the University of Connecticut Huskies of the NCAA.
Aalyiah, and her signature purple and gold braids, that are an homage to Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers, have thrived on the American collegiate degree. She was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team and Sixth Woman of the Year in her first season and a Third-Team All-American this previous 12 months.
“The standard, and the level of excellence that they demand from us as athletes there, I think in that type of environment every day you’re practicing against the best players which are my teammates, and then when we go into competitions go into games — we’re prepared,” Aaliyah Edwards stated.
Her play has gotten higher with every season. In 2022-23, she averaged a double-double per recreation at 18.3 factors and 11 rebounds, and with Aaliyah on their roster, the UConn Huskies have boasted spectacular seasons, reaching the ultimate 4 in two of the three together with an look within the championship recreation.
And as a rule, her dad and mom have been close by cheering from the stands. Last season the Edwards have been in attendance for all however two of Aaliyah’s video games together with these performed on the street. They even grew to become the topic of broadcast banter throughout televised video games.
“You know when you have nine or 10 thousand people in an arena, cheering for your daughter and her team you can’t help but scream,” Aaliyah’s mom, Jackie Edwards stated.
“To have my parents travel the distance and to come, it’s just mad love for me, mad love for what I’m passionate about and I’m just grateful to have parents who are willing to do that,” Aaliyah stated.
But this previous season didn’t go in accordance with plan. The Huskies have been eradicated from the NCAA match within the Sweet Sixteen, ending a 14-year run of advancing to not less than the ultimate 4.
In what could possibly be her last 12 months within the NCAA Aaliyah hopes the Huskies can return to the championship recreation and are available away with a special outcome.
“You know, me as a competitor, I’m not settling for Sweet Sixteen. I want to get back to a national championship game. I’ve got one more season left in me so that’s the goal,” Aaliyah stated.
“I think Aaliyah prepared for where she is right now. She had those ethics when she was younger,” Jackie Edwards stated. “When she was here at Frontenac, she understood that she’d have to get in the gym before school and get back in the gym after school. So I think the commitment and dedication is just off the charts, but she finds a way.”
And as if her listing of accomplishments wanted to be longer, Aaliyah has additionally gathered a formidable worldwide resume.
She has performed for Canada Basketball at each attainable degree, usually returning dwelling with a medal. She even competed as an 18-year-old on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And in 2022 she was named MVP of the brand new Global Jam Under-23 match the place Canada gained gold.
“One of my dreams growing up was to become an Olympian, and to actually say that I am an Olympian is just amazing,” Aaliyah stated. “It just shows that if you really want something in life you have to really work for it and it will be earned.”
Over the summer time Aaliyah has a number of extra worldwide commitments as Team Canada makes a run on the Paris Olympics in 2024, aiming to enhance on their Tokyo effort the place they did not make it out of the spherical robin.
“The goal is ‘Road to the Podium’, we’ve got qualifiers in February as well. It’s a lot of moving pieces, but this summer my focus is mainly just to be with the national team, to be with the seniors,” Aaliyah stated.
Having loved success at each degree, and creating into among the best within the NCAA, Aaliyah nonetheless isn’t glad and needs to take it to the subsequent degree by being drafted into the WNBA subsequent summer time.
“Oh? Absolutely! That’s the dream, that’s the vision my goal is to get drafted — you know I’d love to play in the WNBA,” Aaliyah stated.
“And I see her there,” Jackie stated. “With God’s will and her continued commitment to the sport, in five years I hope to see her in the WNBA and just being happy.”
And whereas Toronto shouldn’t be fairly the gymnasium at Frontenac Secondary School, because the league flirts with the thought of Canadian enlargement, a homecoming of kinds could possibly be on the horizon for Aaliyah Edwards.
“My goal definitely would be to come back to Canada, come back to my roots, come back to the people that I love and the country that I love and to play on home soil.”
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