Portland Fire’s Only Draftee at Training Camp: Former UConn Husky Soaking It All In

The Portland Fire welcomed their sole 2024 WNBA Draft selection to training camp this week, as former UConn standout Aaliyah Edwards arrived in Oregon ready to prove she belongs at the professional level. Selected 11th overall by the Fire in April’s draft, Edwards is the team’s only rookie reporting for camp, placing added importance on her early integration into the squad’s system and culture.

Edwards, a 6-foot-3 forward from Kingston, Ontario, completed a four-year career at UConn where she evolved into one of the most reliable frontcourt players in women’s college basketball. Over her final two seasons with the Huskies, she averaged 12.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 58.2% from the field, earning All-Big East Honorable Mention honors in 2023 and 2024. Her ability to score in the post, finish through contact, and rebound at both ends made her a steady presence for a UConn program that reached the Final Four in both 2023 and 2024.

Now, Edwards is adjusting to the speed and physicality of the WNBA during her first professional training camp. Speaking with reporters after her first full practice, she emphasized the learning curve but expressed confidence in her preparation.

“It’s a different game — faster, stronger, more experienced players everywhere you look. But I’ve been ready for this moment since I was a kid watching Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird. I’m just trying to absorb everything, learn from the veterans, and earn my role.”

Head coach Kari Grisso has acknowledged the unique challenge of integrating a lone rookie into training camp dynamics, especially without another first-year player to share the experience.

“Aaliyah’s coming in with a professional mindset. She’s attentive, asks great questions, and wants to obtain better every day. We don’t have another rookie to pair her with, but that means she’s getting individual attention — and she’s making the most of it.”

The Fire, who finished the 2023 season with a 13-21 record, are looking to Edwards to provide immediate depth in the frontcourt alongside returning stars like Napheesa Collier and Satou Sabally. While Edwards may not start immediately, her strength in the post and high basketball IQ could allow her to carve out minutes as a rotational player, particularly in matchups against physical opposing forwards.

Analysts note that Edwards’ transition mirrors that of other recent UConn forwards who’ve made smooth WNBA adjustments, such as Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Christyn Williams, both of whom benefited from the program’s emphasis on professional readiness.

As camp progresses, Edwards will continue to work on her defensive positioning, pick-and-roll timing, and outside shooting — areas identified by the Fire’s coaching staff as key to her long-term development. For now, her focus remains simple: learn, compete, and earn trust.

With the WNBA regular season set to begin in mid-May, Edwards has roughly six weeks to transition from collegiate standout to professional contributor. If her early work ethic and coachability are any indication, she’s well on her way.