Aaliyah Edwards has spent the vast majority of her grownup life in Connecticut, enjoying 4 seasons with the l program and returning final 12 months to the WNBA's n on a mid-season commerce.
Nevertheless, the 24-year-old ahead's run within the Nutmeg State will finish Thursday night because the Solar tackle Toronto of their 2026 regular-season finale earlier than the franchise relocates to Houston forward of the 2027 marketing campaign. Edwards wrote an open letter to Connecticut, which was n, reflecting on six years of recollections within the state and expressing her gratitude to the native girls's basketball fan base.
"Pricey Connecticut, it's arduous to say goodbye to a spot that has felt like house in multiple chapter of my life," Edwards' letter begins. "Lengthy earlier than I wore a Connecticut Solar jersey, Connecticut welcomed a younger woman from Kingston, Ontario, who got here right here with large desires and so much to nonetheless be taught. This state watched me develop up. It gave me area to be taught, to make errors, to turn into extra assured, extra resilient, and extra sure of the girl and participant I needed to be."
One remaining love letter from Aaliyah💌
Aaliyah Edwards Behind the Glow function is now stay! Learn the total function utilizing this 🔗: Mr | n5
– Connecticut Solar (@ConnecticutSun) 6
As Edwards notes, she grew up round 270 miles northeast within the Lake Ontario border city of Kingston, however after blossoming right into a five-star recruit within the 2020 highschool class, she had the chance to put down roots in nearly any faculty city throughout america. Edwards finally dedicated to Geno Auriemma in October 2019, citing this system's aggressive ambiance and a want to be surrounded by greatness.
Carving out an instantaneous position in Storrs, Edwards completed fourth on the crew in scoring as a freshman with 10.7 factors per sport, and blossomed right into a UConn nice through the again half of her faculty profession. Edwards completed as a Wood first-team All-American as a senior, averaging 17.6 factors an evening and close to double-double numbers, however her faculty profession ended after being whistled for a controversial transferring display screen towards Iowa within the 2024 Last 4.
On the again of this school success, Edwards was chosen No. 6 total by the Washington Mystics and earned a rotational beginning position within the nation's capital. Nevertheless, incoming rookie Kiki Iriafen supplanted Edwards within the rotation through the 2025 season, main Washington to commerce the previous UConn star to Connecticut in August 2025. Edwards has averaged 21 minutes per sport for a rebuilding Solar squad this 12 months, posting a career-high 10.9-point scoring common.
Edwards concluded her letter, "To Connecticut: thanks for giving me a spot to develop. Thanks for the recollections, the teachings, the individuals, and the moments I'll carry with me lengthy after this chapter ends. Basketball has taken me to numerous locations, and I do know there are nonetheless so many locations left for it to take me. However some locations depart a mark on you. Connecticut is a type of locations for me. From Storrs to Uncasville, from one chapter to a different, thanks for letting me name you house. With love, Aaliyah Edwards."
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