As University of Connecticut forward Aaliyah Edwards gets set for the women's Final Four, she's well aware that she has a whole country in her corner.
The youngster from Kingston, Ont. is a key piece on a UConn women's team looking to win its first championship since 2016, and is thankful for what the opportunity to represent Canada on one of college basketball's best programs has done for her and other Canadians.
"I'm just grateful for the platform that I've been given, playing at an elite school like UConn," Edwards said on Thursday in Cleveland. "Because not only it's opened doors for me and opportunities for me, but also opportunities for, you know, those upcoming in Canada."
The 21-year-old forward is not the first Canadian to star for legendary Huskies coach Geno Auriemma, as Canada's Kia Nurse was also a key piece on two national championship-winning teams in 2015 and 2016.
Edwards is proud to carry on Nurse's legacy, and knows it could be big for the up-and-coming generation of hoopers north of the border.
"I think the impact that I've been able to continue to lead after Kia came here was just showing Canadians that we cannot only be dominant just within Canada, but coming across the border and seeing how special you can get more opportunities in the NCAA and going for a scholarship and becoming a student-athlete and eventually going pro," Edwards said.
Edwards officially declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft last week and is hoping to finish off her NCAA career on a high
Things won't be easy for Edwards and the Huskies, however, as they will face the Iowa Hawkeyes and generational superstar Caitlin Clark on Friday with a title berth on the line.
And while Edwards is well aware that she comes from a hockey-obsessed nation, she can see things are changing and appreciates every Canadian who is behind her.
"We're not only a hockey country, we're trying to be a basketball country as well," Edwards said. "So a lot of love up north, and I appreciate all of you."
