“I want to be one of the best, ever since I was younger. That’s the competitive spirit in me. To be surrounded by greatness in this gym each and every day is amazing, but you can’t apologize for doing good things.” That mindset? Pure Mamba. Aaliyah Edwards has carried that fire since Day 1. She’s not just here to play–she’s here to dominate. The 22-year-old forward isn’t afraid of the spotlight. She welcomes it! You could see that Kobe Bryant influence loud and clear during the 2024 Big East Tournament. Edwards took the floor in a protective face mask after injuring her nose. Didn’t matter. She played through it like a warrior.

If you really want to see how much Kobe Bryant meant to Aaliyah Edwards, just rewind to the 2024 WNBA Draft. Her fit said it all. Edwards walked in with her signature purple and yellow braids–a bold tribute to the Black Mamba. Not the first time she’s rocked them either. She’s been honoring Kobe this way for a while now.

That night, the Washington Mystics selected her with the number 6 pick. And she didn’t disappoint. The rookie forward suited up for 34 games and even cracked the starting lineup 17 times. She averaged 7.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and logged 21.8 minutes per contest. Not bad at all for a first-year campaign. She heads into her second year with the very same fire. But what’s her journey been like leading up to it?

Where is Aaliyah Edwards from? What’s her nationality?

Aaliyah Edwards is a Canadian through and through. Born on July 9, 2002, in Kingston, Ontario, she’s been making her country proud ever since she first picked up a basketball. She played her college ball at UConn from 2020 to 2024, and her rise to fame was nothing short of impressive. Just how in-demand was she? Try 74 scholarship offers! But in the end, there was only one program on her radar–Geno Auriemma’s Huskies. It was her only official visit, and she never looked back.

Though injuries kept the Huskies from winning a title during her time there, Edwards built a legacy of her own. She racked up accolades like the 2024 WBCA All-America honor, the 2024 Wooden Award All-America, the 2023 BIG EAST Most Improved Player, and the 2023 BIG EAST Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Aaliyah Edwards kicked off her collegiate basketball journey with the UConn Huskies in the 2020–21 season. As a freshman, she made an immediate impact. Her efforts were recognized as she earned a spot on the Big East All-Freshman Team and was named the Big East Sixth Woman of the Year in 2021.

In her sophomore season (2021–22), Edwards continued to grow. She became a key contributor for the Huskies and was selected to the Big East All-Tournament Team in 2022. But it was her junior year in 2022–23 that truly set her apart. Edwards made headlines when she became the first UConn player since Maya Moore in 2010 to post a 20-point, 20-rebound performance. That season solidified her as one of the best in the country, earning her a spot on the Third Team All-American lists from both the USBWA and the Associated Press.

In her senior year, she was dominant. Started all 37 games. Averaged a career-high 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds. Racked up 18 double-doubles. She also added 76 assists, 36 blocks, and a career-best 62 steals to her stat sheet. That kind of resume made her a top pick in the pros.

Aaliyah Edwards was taken sixth overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics. The moment was emotional and surreal for the Canadian forward. “It’s amazing. It’s a dream come true, and to actually walk your dream, it means a lot,” she said through tears as she accepted her jersey on stage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. But that wasn’t the only jersey she’s worn with pride—Edwards has also been representing Team Canada on the international stage since 2018.

What is Aaliyah Edwards’ ethnicity and religion?

Aaliyah Edwards comes from Jamaican roots, adding a rich cultural background to her Canadian identity. As for her religion, while Edwards hasn’t publicly detailed her specific beliefs, she has opened up about the role faith plays in her life. In past interviews with ESPN, she shared that she and her teammates are “pretty faith-driven,” often attending Bible study and church services together. It’s clear that her spiritual life is something she values deeply, both personally and as part of her team dynamic.

Which high school did Aaliyah Edwards attend?

Aaliyah Edwards attended Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto, Ontario. There, she played varsity basketball for the Crestwood Lions and quickly became one of the team’s standout stars. In 2019, she was named Defensive Player of the Year.

But that was just the beginning. Edwards and her team competed in multiple top-level events that year, including the OSBA, NPA, and CISAA Championships. She dominated those tournaments, being named the 2019/20 OSBA MVP — a major recognition in Canadian high school hoops. On top of that, she made waves internationally too, earning MVP honors at the 2019 NBA Basketball Without Borders Global Camp.

The next year, she was making her way to Storrs, and soon have Geno Auriemma declare, “I think she’s deserving of being an All-American.” She’s much more now, proudly donning the Mystics logo for the second year.