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.,&nbsp;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&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bleedblue</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/focusedforward?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#focusedforward</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/family?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#family</a> <a href="https://t.co/qeFP2kP3Xa">pic.twitter.com/qeFP2kP3Xa</a>

"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.

UConn's Aaliyah Edwards signs NIL deal in Canada, but can't talk about it in the U.S.

UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards signed a big name, image and likeness contract this week with adidas Canada, but wasn't allowed to speak with reporters in Connecticut about it on Tuesday, for fear that promoting the deal might jeopardize her student visa.

A basketball player jumps for a layup during a game.

UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards goes up for a shot during the second half of an NCAA  basketball game against Minnesota on Nov. 19, 2023, in Minneapolis.

aaliyah edwards kingston ncaa uconn

UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards attempts a layup during a game against Minnesota in 2023.

Women's March Madness is red-hot, and Canadians are part of the show

CBC Sports' daily newsletter explains why the NCAA women's basketball tournament has all the juice, and how a pair of Canadian stars fit in.

A women's basketball player dribbles past another.

UConn's Aaliyah Edwards is one of two Canadian standouts in this year's highly anticipated NCAA women's basketball tournament.

1996267535

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.

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. 

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

More Stories Like This