Aaliyah Edwards to declare for 2024 WNBA Draft after this season

Aaliyah Edwards has finally revealed her plans for the future. On Thursday, the senior forward announced that she will declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft after UConn’s current season ends.

“Gotta savor every moment because this is my last jam at UConn. I'm all-in, ready to bring that championship glory back to Storrs with my squad by my side. Let's have one last dance,” she said in a video posted to her social media accounts. “In addition to one last dance, I will be officially declaring for the 2024 draft. I'm prepared but more importantly, I'm ready for the next chapter.”

A native of Kingston, Ontario, Edwards arrived in Storrs as part of the Huskies’ 2020 recruiting class. Over the last four years, she’s been a staple in the lineup as injuries have ravaged the roster by playing in 134 of 137 possible games. Edwards currently ranks 18th on UConn’s all-time scoring list with 1,777 points and needs 22 more rebounds to become the ninth player in program history to reach 1,000 career boards.

Across her career, she’s averaged 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds while racking up 33 double-doubles.

This season, Edwards earned USBWA Second Team All-American honors while also being an unanimous All-Big East First Team selection and Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year award finalist. As a junior, she received Third Team All-American honors from the USBWA and AP as well as Big East Most Improved Player and Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player. As a freshman, she picked up Big East Sixth Woman of the Year.

Edwards is expected to be a first round pick in the WNBA Draft this April. In the most recent mock drafts, ESPN projected her to go fifth overall to the Dallas Wings while The Athletic had her going seventh overall to the Minnesota Lynx.

With Edwards on the roster, UConn has made two Final Fours (2021, 2022) and a national championship game (2022). After getting close twice before, Edwards will try to go out on top.

“We're all about that hungry, eager and pumped up vibe,” she said in the video. “We've achieved a ton but hey, there's still that one big goal waiting for us. We're not done yet.”

The Huskies will begin their final NCAA Tournament run with Edwards on Saturday against Jackson State. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. ET on ABC from Gampel Pavilion.