Aaliyah Edwards Excelled in the 1-on-1 Unrivaled Tournament

Aaliyah Edwards reached the finals in the 1-on-1 tournament against Napheesa Collier. The 6’3 forward from UCONN, who was the sixth overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, has captivated Unrivaled fans throughout the tournament. As a young post-player, she faced co-founder Breanna Stewart in the first round and secured a convincing victory with a score of 12-0. Many fans were surprised by both the final score and who Edwards had beaten. Some superstars are simply not suited for 1v1 play, and that seems to apply to Stewart. Edwards, with her youthful energy and quicker footwork, won that battle.  

Edwards faced Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray in the quarterfinals and won 12-6, marking another convincing victory for the young forward. She has now easily defeated two veteran players. Perhaps her youth provides an advantage in the 1v1 tournament. Edwards faced her toughest challenge in the semifinals against the phenomenal Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale. She took an early lead of 8-2 but had to fight for every possession. Her strong presence in the paint was crucial for her victory. Aaliyah also displayed surprising speed, outpacing Arike. Ultimately, Edwards secured an 11-2 win and advanced to the finals to face Collier. 

Finals: Edwards vs. Collier 

Collier and Edwards wasted no time. Collier scored the first basket with a quick layup. Although Edwards defended her well, Collier overcame it with a smooth finish. Watching two skilled bigs with quick feet go head-to-head is entertaining for spectators. At 6’1, the smaller forward Collier blocked Edwards at the top of the key while the game was tied at 2-2. Edwards drove to the rim and made the layup. Collier fouled Edwards, tying the game at 6-6, and Edwards hit the free throw. Aaliyah took a one-point lead at 7-6. Edwards scored another layup to seal Game 1 with a final score of 9-6 in her favor. 

Game 2 of the finals had a different pace. The two players appeared fatigued as the match progressed. Both athletes opted to shoot more frequently instead of attacking the rim. Collier established a solid lead of 7-4 and won Game 2 comfortably with a score of 9-4. Game 3, however, started poorly for Edwards, who fell behind by four points early on. The fatigue was taking a toll on the young player; she was missing most of her shots and layups. At this point in the game, the veteran player held the upper hand and ultimately declared the winner of the 1-on-1 tournament with a score of 8-0, clinching the $200k prize.