Paige Bueckers: Aaliyah Edwards is going down as one of the greats
Paige Bueckers wants everyone to remember what Aaliyah Edwards did for the UConn women’s basketball program.
Following the loss to Iowa in the Final Four, Bueckers and teammate Nika Muhl had to reflect a little bit. But it’s not an issue of if they will remember Edwards, but what they will remember about her.
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Muhl and Bueckers were highly complimentary.
“I would definitely say not how should they but how they will remember her, and that’s as one of the greats here, and as one of the players that had to overcome so much to get noticed, to get credit for what she does every day.
“And I feel like this year she finally got the credit — not even enough to how much she should have gotten, but I feel like, you know, she’s been the most solid rock for us all these four years when we were dealing with so much. She’s the most consistent one, the hardest worker. And she just puts her head down, doesn’t talk. She just works.”
Despite not winning a national title together, Edwards will be remembered by the Husky faithful.
“As much as — devastated as I am, that we couldn’t leave here with one thing that me and her and I mean all of us came here for and that’s a national championship,” Muhl said. “I feel like, you know, we gave it our all and we really left it out there 100 percent.
“I feel that’s what people should remember her for, is a player that always leaves 100 percent out there no matter what, no matter who is watching, no matter if nobody talks about her, she leaves it all out there, and I can’t wait for the things that are coming for her, because she’s one of the greats, and she’s going to be great.”
Aaliyah Edwards is an all-time UConn player
The national media talks about Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and others. But don’t forget Edwards.
“Yeah, I mean, to the national media she’s under-appreciated, under- respected,” Buecker said of Edwards. “She deserves — the UConn fans, they know every single game, every single day what she brings and that’s a competitive spirit, drive, determination, domination, and just the will to.
“She never complains once what she doesn’t receive, how much credit she gets. She puts her head down, like Nika says, and she just works and does anything this team asks and needs of her.”
Edwards finished the Final Four loss with 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
“And she was put on a heavy load this entire year, this entire four years as the person who was the most consistent in the lineup, always carried the heaviest load, always handled the pressure, and just showed up every single day ready to go, regardless of the circumstances and who was around her,” Bueckers said.
“I mean, UConn fans know how much Aaliyah means to this program. Like Nika said, she’s one of the greats. And I’m so, so glad she gets to go up on that wall and she was recognized as a First-Team All-American because that’s what she’s been. Aaliyah is everything to this program. She embodies this program. And she’s going down as one of the greats.”