Aaliyah Edwards, Kia Nurse named to Canadian Olympic Team

Former UConn stars Aaliyah Edwards and Kia Nurse are heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics after making Team Canada’s roster. Nurse will be a three-time Olympian while Edwards is set to go to her second summer games.

Canada is coming off a disappointing performance at the 2020 Olympics in which it finished ninth despite having medal aspirations.

One difference this time around could be the presence of Edwards, who barely played in Tokyo as the youngest member of the squad but now figures to be a key piece of the frontcourt. As a rookie with the Washington Mystics, Edwards has put up 8.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while recording two double-doubles so far.

Nurse has long been a mainstay of Canada’s program. In 2016, she led the team in minutes and scoring, then did it again in 2020. After tearing her ACL in 2022, Nurse is in the midst of a bounce-back season with the Los Angeles Sparks. She’s averaging 9.1 points and 1.6 assists while shooting 37.2 percent — her highest mark since 2019.

Edwards and Nurse are the fourth and fifth former UConn players heading to Paris along with Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart, and Diana Taurasi, who all made Team USA. Gabby Williams is expected to suit up for France as well, which would bring the total to six.