Aaliyah Edwards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Aaliyah Edwards

Edwards with the Washington Mystics in 2024
No. 24 – Washington Mystics
Forward
Personal information
Born	(2002-07-09) July 9, 2002 (age 23) Kingston, Ontario, Canada
High school	Crestwood Prep (Toronto, Ontario)
Listed height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight	174 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College	UConn (2020–2024)
NBA Draft	2024 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall
Selected by the Washington Mystics
Pro career	2024–present
League	WNBA
Career history
2024–present	Washington Mystics
2025–present	Mist BC
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-American – USBWA (2024) Third-team All-American – AP, USBWA (2023) WBCA Coaches' All-American (2024) 2× first-team All-Big East (2023, 2024) Big East Most Improved Player of the Year (2023) Big East Sixth Woman of the Year (2021) Big East All-Freshman Team (2021) Big East tournament MOP (2023)
Medals Women's basketball Representing  Canada FIBA Women's AmeriCup Silver 2019 Puerto Rico Bronze 2023 León FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship Silver 2017 Argentina

Aaliyah Mckenzie Edwards (born July 9, 2002) is a talented Canadian professional basketball player. She plays for the Washington Mystics in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Before joining the WNBA, Aaliyah played college basketball at UConn. The Mystics chose her as the sixth overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. Aaliyah has also been a key player for the Canadian national team since 2018.

Aaliyah's Early Life and School Basketball

Aaliyah Edwards was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, on July 9, 2002. She went to Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto. While there, she helped her school win three championships.

College Basketball Career

Edwards playing for the UConn Huskies in 2023

Aaliyah played college basketball for the UConn Huskies from 2020 to 2024. In her third year, she had amazing stats. She averaged 18.3 points and 11 rebounds per game. This was a big improvement from her second year. She was the first UConn player since Maya Moore in 2010 to get 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game.

As a senior, Aaliyah was named first-team All-Big East. She also earned second-team All-America honors. This happened after UConn reached the final four in the 2024 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.

Professional Basketball Career

Playing in the WNBA

Washington Mystics (2024–present)

On April 15, 2024, the Washington Mystics picked Aaliyah Edwards as the sixth player in the 2024 WNBA draft. She signed her first professional contract on April 18. Aaliyah made her WNBA debut on May 15, 2024. She scored 6 points and grabbed 2 rebounds in 14 minutes.

Her first time starting a game was on May 19. She scored 9 points and had 11 rebounds. Aaliyah had her best game on June 6, 2024. She set new personal records with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks. During her first season, she sometimes started games and sometimes came off the bench. This often happened when the starting center, Shakira Austin, was injured.

Aaliyah herself missed three games in June and the last three games in September. These absences were due to back and ankle injuries. In her first year, she played in 34 games and started 17 of them. She averaged 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

Playing in Unrivaled

On October 29, 2024, it was announced that Aaliyah would play in the first season of Unrivaled. This is a new women's 3-on-3 basketball league. It was started by famous players Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. Aaliyah competed in a 1v1 tournament within the league. She beat Breanna Stewart, Allisha Gray, and Arike Ogunbowale. She then lost to Napheesa Collier in the final round.

Playing for the National Team

Aaliyah first played for the Canadian junior national team in 2017. She won a silver medal at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Women's Americas Championship. She also played in the 2018 U17 FIBA World Cup and the 2019 U19 FIBA World Cup. She was the youngest player on both of these teams.

In 2019, at just 16 years old, Aaliyah joined the senior national team. She helped Canada win a silver medal at the 2019 FIBA Women's AmeriCup. Later that year, she helped Canada qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Aaliyah was the youngest player on the team again for the 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup. Canada finished fourth in that tournament. In July 2021, she was chosen for Team Canada's roster for the Tokyo Olympics. She played briefly in two games, but Canada did not make it to the quarterfinals.

In the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, Aaliyah was a key player. The team won bronze medals. She averaged 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game during the tournament.

In July 2024, Aaliyah was again named to Team Canada's roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics. She played in all three group stage games. She averaged 3.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Canada did not advance to the quarterfinals in this tournament either.

Career Statistics

WNBA Regular Season

College Statistics

Personal Life

Aaliyah Edwards was born to Jacqueline and Stanford Edwards. She is of Jamaican descent. She wears purple and yellow braids in her hair. This is a special way to honor the Los Angeles Lakers and basketball legend Kobe Bryant. It also pays tribute to her late brother, Jermaine.

Awards and Honors

• Big East All-Tournament team (2023)
• AP Third Team All-American (2023)