Unrivaled's Aaliyah Edwards suggests WNBA officials might feel intimidated due to their powerful performance.
Unleashing Confidence: Aaliyah Edwards' Journey with the Washington Mystics
Step aside, naysayers! Second-year phenom Aaliyah Edwards is back and determined to shake up the WNBA scene with the Washington Mystics. Fresh off a stellar performance at the Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament, Edwards is radiating self-assurance and readiness to conquer the court.
Bullets Forever's Marco Gacina was fortunate to catch up with Edwards, who shared the impact of the competition on her skillset and confidence.
"I ain't shyin' no more," she asserted on Media Day. "I ain't lookin' for no iso matchups every time I grab the rock or cravin' that one-on-one backdown. But I tell you what - the one-on-one skills I picked up, they done boosted my confidence. I ain’t no rookie no more - I’m here, I done been here before, and now, my friends, they're a bit scared," she teased with a confident grin.
Edwards knocked out some household names to reach the Unrivaled final, handling two-time MVP and co-founder Breanna Stewart with a dominating 12-0, before overcoming two-time All-Star Allisha Grey (12-6) and four-time All-Star Arike Ogunbowale (11-2) in the semis. In the best-of-three final, however, it was two-time All-WNBA First Teamer and co-founder Napheesa Collier who edged her out 2-1, with a nail-biting finale (8-0).
That Edwards sank three-pointers in the tournament is a sign of her expanding offensive repertoire, as she struggled beyond the arc last season with the Mystics, going 0-of-7. Expect her to be more than a one-trick pony this season, as she learns to stretch defenses and consistently cash in from the perimeter. Being a threat from every level of the court is the ultimate aim for any player, as it keeps defenders on their toes and consistently off-balance.
A Rollercoaster Start: Injuries and Practice Sessions
Despite the setback of a low back contusion picked up at the start of training camp, Edwards' spirits remain high. The injury will keep her out of the first preseason game against the Atlanta Dream and the following contest against the Indiana Fever. However, she has 10 days to heal up in time for the regular-season opener versus the Dream on May 16.
Team doctor's orders demand patience; the team does not want to risk a setback before the seasonhas officially begun. Washington has already lost Shakira Austin (leg), Georgia Amo0re (ACL), and Sika Koné (overseas commitment) for the time being, so the Mystics' coaching staff is making the most of the opportunity to assess the backups and slowly trim the roster down to 12 players.
On Tuesday, Edwards was spotted at practice with a ball in hand, making progress in her recovery, as reported by The Washington Post's Kareem Copeland. Rest assured, the Mystics nation is eagerly awaiting Edwards' return, as the team prepares to contend for the 2025 WNBA Championship.
[1] - https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/play-index/pgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&year_min=2025&year_max=2025&is_playoffs=N&c1stat=p&c1comp=gt&c1val=9&order_by=date_game[2] - https://www.espn.com/wnba/injuries/_/date/2025/05/16[3] - https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05/01/washington-mystics-aaliyah-edwards-training-camp-back-contusion/[4] - https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/04/29/washington-mystics-aaliyah-edwards-injury-wnba-training-camp/
- Aaliyah Edwards is working on her fadeaway jumper during practice to broaden her skillset and become a more formidable opponent on the WNBA court.
- Edwards' confidence has clearly improved after her impressive performance at the Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament, and fans are craving to see her dominant play when she returns from her injuries.
- With the Mystics' starting roster depleted due to injuries and overseas commitments, Edwards' return is crucial for the team's hopes of challenging for the 2025 WNBA Championship.
- To keep defenders off-balance, Edwards aims to master all levels of basketball play and become a threat from everywhere on the court, including the three-point line, where she struggled last season.
- As the Mystics' coaching staff evaluates their backup players during preseason games, fans anxiously await Edwards' anticipated comeback after suffering a low back contusion during training camp.
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