Kingston’s Aaliyah Edwards’ impressive development as a basketball player has given the 19-year-old an opportunity to compete for her country at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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Edwards is a six-foot-three forward and was the youngest player on the senior women’s Team Canada in 2019. She was selected as the team’s top performer in the 2019 gold medal AmeriCup Game that was played in San Juan, Puerto Rico and featured the top 10 teams in North, Central and South America.
After leading her Crestwood high school team to an undefeated season, Edwards is now a sophomore at the University of Connecticut and a Huskies Forward. In 2019, she was the first Kingston women’s basketball player on Canada’s senior team since Andrea Blackwell, who was a member from 1979 to 1996. Blackwell competed for Canada in the 1984 and 1996 Olympics and played in four world championships.
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Edwards has been meeting achievement after achievement, including being named the Big East Sixth Woman of the Year in 2021. Her invitation to the Canada national team’s training camp in preparation for the 2021 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup marked her fifth time being named to Team Canada. After the AmeriCup took place in June 2021 in Puerto Rico, Aaliyah Edwards officially became the ninth former Huskie set to compete in women’s basketball events in Tokyo this year. On average, Edwards contributed 4.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game at the AmeriCup. She also revealed how her skill set has improved since her freshman year at UConn, demonstrating versatility that will make her a valuable teammate at the Games.
“Every time I step on the court, whether practice or game day, is all about expanding my knowledge,” she said. “There is always something to learn and I’m all about that. Student of the game for life.”
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While she misses her teammates and coaches at UConn, they had hoped her return would be delayed even further by the opportunity to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Fortunately, the Huskies will have to wait a bit longer for their reunion with Edwards as she prepares to compete on the world stage. In 2019, she reflected on how the Limestone City continues to support her as a force to be reckoned with on Team Canada:
“I’ve actually received a lot of love from my past teammates and coaches in Kingston since it was announced that I was selected for the team,” Edwards said. “I’m locked into the task at hand but really appreciate the love coming from my hometown.”
Story adapted from a profile by Ian MacAlpine
