Aaliyah Edwards, the rookie forward for the Washington Mystics, has been receiving high praise from her veteran teammates as she navigates her first season in the WNBA. Despite not having the same high-profile recognition as fellow rookies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, Edwards has made a name for herself through her hard work and consistent performance on the court.
Her work ethic and approach to the game have earned her the respect and admiration of her teammates. Mystics guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough highlighted Edwards' quiet yet impactful presence:
“She lets her work and her game speak for itself. It seems like she takes that approach, and it’s working for us as a team, for sure. She’s going out and she’s doing exactly what we need her to do every night,” Walker-Kimbrough said, via Sapna Bansil of The Washington Post.
Ariel Atkins, a seventh-year guard for the Mystics, also praised Edwards for her quick learning and positive attitude.
“Aaliyah is one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever been around,” Atkins said before a June 14 win vs. the Chicago Sky. “Just her ability to learn so quickly, which is so important at this level. Obviously she’s a really good basketball player, but I love her as a person. She’s just really fun to be around, super easygoing, and just is always down to have a good time. She’s earned my trust in 13 games, and I’m not a super trusting person.”
Aaliyah Edward's WNBA transition
In her recent games, Edwards has demonstrated her versatility. During the Mystics' 83-81 victory over the Sky, Edwards delivered a strong performance with 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. The game marked her second head-to-head meeting with Reese. Edwards is averaging 12.7 points on 63 percent shooting, 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in her last six games.
“Her maturity is what stands out for me,” Julie Vanloo said. “I think that’s a very big plus for her (success) in her first part of the season. … Honestly, I can go on about Aaliyah because I really think she’s an example for many, many rookies that will come in this league.”
Her journey to the WNBA has been different from many of her fellow rookies. Growing up in Kingston, Ontario, her exposure to basketball was limited primarily to NBA games, with WNBA and college basketball broadcasts being less accessible. This background, combined with restrictions on name, image, and likeness (NIL) activity due to her international student status, shaped a unique path to professional basketball.
Walker-Kimbrough described Edwards' approach: “She’s a dog. I feel like the mask is like her hard-hat, like she’s going to work every time she steps on the floor.”
Edwards’ experience playing for the Canadian national team at a young age has also contributed to her ability to integrate seamlessly into the WNBA.
“I played for my national team at a young age, so I had to be more mature, had to be around adults [and] learn how to handle myself in a professional way, both on and off the court,” Edwards said.
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