UConn star Aaliyah Edwards will enter the WNBA draft following the NCAA Tournament
UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards (3) smiles as she watches her teammates warm up before an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big East Conference tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena, Sunday, March 10, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards (3) shoots over Providence Friars forward Olivia Olsen (31) during an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the a Big East tournament, Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. (Cloe Poisson/Hartford Courant via AP)
UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards (3) smiles as she watches her teammates warm up before an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big East Conference tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena, Sunday, March 10, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards (3) smiles as she watches her teammates warm up before an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Big East Conference tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena, Sunday, March 10, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards (3) shoots over Providence Friars forward Olivia Olsen (31) during an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the a Big East tournament, Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. (Cloe Poisson/Hartford Courant via AP)
UConn forward Aaliyah Edwards (3) shoots over Providence Friars forward Olivia Olsen (31) during an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the a Big East tournament, Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. (Cloe Poisson/Hartford Courant via AP)
STORRS, Conn. (AP) — UConn center 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, Ontario, revealed her plans in a video posted on social media, two days before the Huskies open NCAA Tournament play.
“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 honorable mention to the AP All-America team, is averaging 17.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
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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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket/ and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness