UNCASVILLE — To Aaliyah Edwards, community has always meant more than just where you’re from.
Last month, she visited her roots in Jamaica and hosted a basketball camp for hundreds of kids. Next week, about 200 of Edwards’ close family and friends will attend the Connecticut Sun’s preseason game at the Toronto Tempo in support of Edwards playing in Canada’s first WNBA game.
And this summer, the former UConn women’s basketball star will play her first full season for the Sun in the franchise’s final year in the state that helped launch her basketball career.
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Honoring her community has always been a core value to Edwards. More than just the neighborhood where she physically grew up, but the people, her family, friends, mentors and supporters, and more. One look at her long purple and gold braids gives you the biggest example, as they’re a nod to her older brother, who passed away too soon after sparking her love for the sport she’s built her life around.
UNCASVILLE, CT – SEPTEMBER 10: Connecticut Sun forward Aaliyah Edwards (8) drives to the basket during a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and the Connecticut Sun on September 10, 2025, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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To Edwards, this also looks like celebrating a major win for her home country, while bringing joy and resources to the country in her blood and, of course, embracing the other country and the state that made her dreams come true.
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The former Husky begins her third year in the WNBA with a renewed sense of pride. Even though her time with the Sun hasn’t been long, she has deep respect for Connecticut, its fans and supporters who have watched her grow from a college freshman to All-American and now in the WNBA. Heading into the Sun’s final year in the state, Edwards is ready to do what she can to honor the franchise.
“It’s gonna be sad, but I’m gonna play for the city, play for the state, and really own the Connecticut Sun across my chest,” she said Thursday after the Sun’s training camp practice at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Edwards joined the Sun last year in the middle of what turned out to be the team’s worst season in franchise history. Connecticut started the 2025 season in complete rebuild with a new head coach, a new rookie core and lots of frustration. The Sun went 3-20 in the first two months of the season. There was a disconnect between the new coaching staff and the players due to a language and cultural barrier, and, at the time, an unknown future cast a dark, gloomy cloud behind the scenes.
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UNCASVILLE, CT – AUGUST 21: Connecticut Sun center Olivia Nelson-Ododa (10) and Connecticut Sun forward Aaliyah Edwards (8) celebrate after a WNBA game between the Washington Mystics and the Connecticut Sun on August 21, 2025, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. The Sun defeated the Mystics 67-56. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Washington, which drafted Edwards No. 6 overall in 2024, traded her to Connecticut in early August. The Sun finished the year with a combined 11-33 record, missing the playoffs for the first time in eight years.
“It was a bit weird, because I feel like when I joined the team, they’re going through a lot,” she said.
Edwards took the offseason to focus on showing up for her communities. She returned home to Kingston, Ontario, and hosted her third youth basketball camp in October. In November, she teamed up with Jamaica Basketball to help launch a relief drive following the devastating effects of Hurricane Melissa.
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She returned to Storrs in January for her Huskies of Honor induction before settling in Miami for her second season in Unrivaled. Despite battling a thumb injury throughout the winter (she underwent a procedure after splitting her nail bed through her skin), she averaged 20.4 points, a 57.0 field goal percentage (third best in the league), and a league-leading 12.4 rebounds per game.
In March, she suited up for her home country and competed in the World Cup Qualifying tournament in Istanbul. Despite Team Canada failing to earn a spot in September’s World Cup, Edwards earned All-Star Five honors and averaged 12.6 points and team-highs in rebounds (9) and steals (1.4) per game.
Aaliyah Edwards of Canada National Team dribbles the ball during the Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments Groupe Phase – Group A between Hungary National Team and Canada National Team at Turkcell Basketball Development Center on March 12, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Basturk / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)
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She ended her offseason by hosting her first high school basketball camp in Jamaica. The camp was originally scheduled for November but was postponed due to the hurricane. Edwards said she enjoyed learning more about her family’s roots and helping young girls gain access to basketball.
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“It was great vibes, lot of energy, and you can really see the passion, the commitment to basketball down there in Jamaica,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know Jamaica is a third-world country. I know a lot of people go for vacation, but it’s just the (lack of) resource accessibility. (I’m) just using my platform to share. That is the biggest impact I can really make on these girls. …
“A lot of athletes down there, a lot of girls down there are encouraged to play netball, but a lot of them are actually really passionate about basketball. So, I just wanted to give them that pathway that they could do both or have the opportunity to play basketball if they want to.”
Unlike last year, when she dealt with a lower back contusion and missed Washington’s first four games and most of training camp, Edwards begins training camp this year with the Sun healthy.
“I just feel grateful overall, because you never want to go into the season injured or partially injured or just with uncertainty,” she said. “This year, I’m just feeling great. My body’s feeling great, and just being aware that … my team’s gonna need me, my coaches are gonna need me.”
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UNCASVILLE, CT – SEPTEMBER 10: Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner (42) and Connecticut Sun forward Aaliyah Edwards (8) attempt to get into position to rebound the ball during a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and the Connecticut Sun on September 10, 2025, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by Joseph Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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The Sun has its young core back, but unlike last year is starting the season with high spirits. There’s laughter instead of disappointment. Loose, but focused practices instead of tight and stressed environments. The dynamics between players and staff are more positive and connected, thanks to newly acquired star Brittney Griner.
The 10-time WNBA All-Star and 2014 WNBA Champion not only brings a wealth of experience to the Sun, but also a refreshing, goofy yet serious-when-needed personality. For young post players like Edwards, having Griner to learn from is invaluable.
“I love it. She’s a legend to our league, legend to the game,” said Edwards. “So to have that type of expertise around me constantly only makes me better and helps me to grow as a leader and as a player. BG has been a great addition for us. She’s a winner. She’s had a championship before, and I love to play alongside winners, so I’m all ears for her.”
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Edwards said she still remembers getting blocked by 6-foot-9 Griner during her rookie year in the league.
“I tried to do a reverse layup on her in my rookie season, and she just sent my stuff to third row,” said Edwards, laughing at the memory.
UNCASVILLE, CT – SEPTEMBER 06: Connecticut Sun forward Aaliyah Edwards (8) warms up before a WNBA game between the Phoenix Mercury and the Connecticut Sun on September 6, 2025, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. (Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Edwards was a top international prospect when she got to UConn in 2020. However, it was her time and growth with the Huskies that made her an All-American, a star and a first-round draft pick. In four years in Storrs, she led UConn to three Final Fours and eight combined Big East championships, including winning four conference tournaments on the Sun’s home court at Mohegan Sun Arena.
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She admits she was sad to learn the Sun will relocate to Houston next season. But just like she has with her Canadian and Jamaican communities, she plans on doing what she can to make this final season in Connecticut memorable – starting with helping foster a positive energy in training camp.
“That energy in the building, as soon as you walk in, you see it, you feel it,” she said. “… It’s great vibes, and everyone’s just so eager to be better, so eager to push the person beside them, and just eager to compete. And that’s all I can really ask for at the end of the day. As I said, I like to play alongside winners. We’re trying to get a lot of dubs this season, more than last season, so this is a great start already.”