'I'm ready': UConn star Aaliyah Edwards declares for WNBA draft ahead of NCAA tournament

Canadian and UConn centre/forward Aaliyah Edwards declared for the WNBA draft on Thursday, forgoing final year of eligibility.

6-foot-3 senior from Kingston, Ont., is expected to be 1st-round selection

The Associated Press · Posted: Mar 21, 2024 8:22 PM EDT | Last Updated: March 22

Women's basketball player Aaliyah Edwards dribbles the ball with her right hand as she attempts to drive past a women's basketball player. — UConn Huskies's Aaliyah Edwards handles the ball against the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2023. The Kingston Ont., native declared for the WNBA draft on Thursday in a video posted to social media. (Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

UConn centre/forward Aaliyah Edwards announced Thursday that she will enter the WNBA draft, in which she is expected to be a first-round pick.

The 6-foot-3 senior from Kingston, Ont., revealed her plans in a video posted on social media, two days before the Huskies open NCAA Tournament play.

Last dance 💙🐺<br><br>“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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bleedblue?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bleedblue</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/focusedforward?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#focusedforward</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/family?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#family</a> <a href="https://t.co/qeFP2kP3Xa">pic.twitter.com/qeFP2kP3Xa</a>
—@AaliyahEdwards_

"Let's have one last dance," she said in her post. "In addition to one last dance, I will be officially declaring for the 2024 WNBA draft. I'm prepared, but more importantly I'm ready for the next chapter."

Edwards, named this week as an honourable mention to the AP All-America team, is averaging 17.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

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She had one year of eligibility remaining because of the COVID-19 pandemic and could have joined teammates Paige Bueckers and Aubrey Griffin, who announced during UConn's senior night last month that they would suit up for the Huskies next season.

UConn (29-5), a No. 3 seed, hosts No. 14 seed Jackson State (26-6) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

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'I'm ready': UConn star Aaliyah Edwards declares for WNBA draft ahead of NCAA tournament

6-foot-3 senior from Kingston, Ont., is expected to be 1st-round selection

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