Oliviyah Edwards had been one player to look out for when college recruiters were out to woo players ahead of the next NCAA season. “Big Oh to the Big Orange…. Go Lady Vols,” wrote the 17-year-old in a statement that announced her decision to commit to the Tennessee Lady Volunteers women’s basketball team. The No. 2 player in the 2026 SportsCenter NEXT 100 class had created an impression through her ability!

Edwards’ athleticism, strength, defensive versatility, and footwork in the paint have helped her build her reputation. Furthermore, her reported expanding shooting range makes her one of the most versatile in the nation. While she rose to this position through her own merits, she also had some help from her stepfather. As Oliviyah Edwards is welcomed to a college basketball career, now is as good a time as any to know more about her family background and roots.

Who is Oliviyah Edwards?

Oliviyah Edwards was reportedly born on February 21, 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia, but she grew up in Tacoma, Washington. Her journey to this date hasn’t been smooth but she has got people to support her dreams. She was adopted and raised by her mother, Jordan West, and her stepfather, Zach Carter.

“I grew up in Atlanta, and Oliviyah was born in Atlanta, so she is not my biological daughter, but I’ve raised her,” West said. “Her biological family is there, I have family there, and so it’s nice because Georgia is close enough that they can go and visit.” Carter, too has been supportive of her dreams. Carter also served as her basketball coach, played a pivotal role in shaping Edwards’ development and guiding her journey to becoming the player she is today.

What is Oliviyah Edwards’ nationality and ethnicity?

There is no information available in the public domain about Oliviyah Edwards’ ethnicity. Her mother, Jordan West, however, is reportedly stated as ‘white’. Whereas for nationality, sources indicate, Edwards holds American nationality.

From a young age, Edwards was interested in lots of sports and adventurous activities. While her primary interest used to be in wrestling, she also engaged in rock climbing, football, and soccer. Occasionally, there were afternoons of neighborhood Nerf tag added into the night.

However, at the start of sixth grade, Edwards began developing knee pain while wrestling. It was Jordan West who suggested basketball. It was a sport that she played minimally at school recess till that point. They went to a tryout at the nonprofit AAU program Hard Work Beats Talent, in Tacoma. Zach Carter, who was then West’s boyfriend, coached teams in fourth through eighth grade back then. The session went horribly. However, Jordan saw talent in her and gave her another chance.

As Edwards recalled, “My stepdad, he coaches me, so when I first started playing, I was known for being able to block shots and being really big. He didn’t like that because he was like, well, ‘she can do so much more,’ because he had already seen my athleticism and other sports because I used to play football, I used to wrestle and all that.”

In less than two years, Edwards transformed from a wrestler who struggled in a dribbling drill to a recruit who dunked in the presence of Kim Mulkey. If she was able to adapt and improve so much, we can only imagine what her college basketball journey will be like.

Is Oliviyah Edwards Christian?

There are no reports from major sources that indicate Oliviyah Edwards is a follower of Christianity. However, when announcing her grassroots program ‘Oh’lete’ earlier this year, Edwards had written:

“From no handle in 6th grade to the No. 2 player in the country just five years later. A journey built on faith, grind, and an unbreakable father-daughter bond…It’s our turn to give back together.” The mention of ‘Faith’ indicates that the player shares some religious belief. With Oliviyah Edwards’ college basketball run set to begin soon, it remains to be seen how she will fare.