Aaliyah Edwards Embraces A'ja Wilson Challenge

Robin Lundberg | Jun 30, 2024

Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY

Washington Mystics rookie Aaliyah Edwards returned to the court following a three-game absence, just in time to face off against A'ja Wilson and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Wilson had her lowest scoring game of the year tallying just a 11 points in the win for the Aces and afterwards the first-year player out of Connecticut remarked about the challenge A'ja presents.

A’ja Wilson and Aaliyah Edwards postgame >>>>>>> #WNBA pic.twitter.com/R2YTw0tbbM

— Vanshay Murdock 🎥🎥 (@VanshayM) June 29, 2024

I love that matchup, she's such a dominant player; longer, taller, stronger than me so it was a challenge for me. I like challenges."

Aaliyah Edwards on guarding A'ja Wilson for the first time:

"I got my buckets on her... I love that matchup, she's such a dominant player; longer, taller, stronger than me so it was a challenge for me. I like challenges." pic.twitter.com/Bygl0Z6zSo

— Tyler Byrum (@theTylerByrum) June 29, 2024

Edwards added it was pretty cool to compete against someone you once watched on TV and expressed pride in stating how she got some buckets on A'ja and was able to contain the superstar defensively for a bit.

Aaliyah Edwards fadeaway over A’ja Wilson 👏🏾

Smooth#WNBA pic.twitter.com/5HF0sRtb3r

— TimeoutSPORTS__ (@TimeoutSPORTS3) June 29, 2024

Former Huskies teammates Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd were in attendance for the matchup and got to see Edwards score 9 points and grab 7 rebounds, with Paige even wearing Aaliyah's jersey for the occasion. Bueckers herself recently stated it is her intention to enter the league after this upcoming college season so she won't be watching from the stands for long.

At today's #Mystics game, UConn stars Azzi Fudd and @paigebueckers1 were here cheering on a few fellow UConn #Huskies.

They offered a bit of a preview of their upcoming season and Paige, rocking an @AaliyahEdwards_ jersey, talked about her love of her old teammate. pic.twitter.com/4ONRox5aHF

— Roey Hadar (@roeyhadar) June 29, 2024

Wilson got a look at Edwards a game after facing off against Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky. Though A'ja certainly was not at her most effective, Las Vegas has shaken off any early season struggles and is riding a four-game winning streak. And now Wilson has gotten a glimpse up close and personal of some of the challenges she will have to face going forward.