Achi news desk-
Aaliyah Edwards of Kingston, Ont. She is officially a professional basketball player.
After four years at the University of Connecticut, Edwards was selected sixth overall by the Washington Mystics in Monday night’s WNBA draft.
“Bring all the Canadians to Washington, let’s go!” Edwards said, speaking to ESPN after being selected.
Edwards, 21, helped UConn reach the NCAA Women’s Final Four earlier this month. The 6-foot-3 forward finished her senior season with a career-high 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
“It’s amazing, it’s a dream come true and realizing your dream means a lot,” she said.
She declared for the WNBA draft in March. She had one more year of college eligibility left but said she was ready to move on to the next step in her career.
“Let’s Dance One Last Dance,” Edwards said on social media. “In addition to one last dance, I will officially announce the 2024 draft. I’m ready, but more importantly I’m ready for the next chapter. The Canadian mamba is out.”
Edwards was also a member of Team Canada 2020 at the Tokyo Games and is expected to join Team Canada in Paris this summer.
“Mad love from Canada,” she said. “I’m just grateful to make an impact here in the United States and open the door to all the little girls who should have been in my position and will be in my position in the future.”
Edwards’ selection marks the second year in a row that a Canadian has been named in the first round of the WNBA draft. Laeticia Amihere, of Mississauga, was selected by the Atlanta Dream eighth overall in last year’s draft.
— With files from the Associated Press and CTV News Ottawa by Josh Pringle.
