Aaliyah Edwards, the Washington Mystics’ rising star and TikTok enthusiast, is about to take her game—and her tweet game—to a whole new level. Edwards has officially joined Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier’s “Unrivaled,” a much-hyped WNBA offshoot that promises to shake things up in 2025. The best 30 players in the WNBA are set to battle it out, and Edwards just grabbed one of the last spots, sliding in as player No. 28. You know, just in time for the big debut.
Taking to X (because who doesn’t love a social media rebrand?), Edwards couldn’t contain her excitement.
“TMUUUUU 😜 @Unrivaledwbb Ready to bring more heat to Miami with the girlies 👌🏾,” she tweeted, likely confusing a few people but definitely hyping the rest. The emoji game is strong with this one.
A Mediocre Season, But Hey, Who’s Counting?
For those of you living under a rock—or, let’s be honest, anyone who didn’t watch the Mystics this season—Edwards was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. She was supposed to usher in a new era for Washington, especially after Elena Delle Donne’s departure. But let’s just say, that “new era” was less fireworks and more… flickering candle.
In 34 games, Edwards averaged 21.8 minutes, 7.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Not exactly MVP numbers, but hey, we all have off years, right? Shooting a respectable 49% from the field was nice—less so the 65% from the free-throw line, which could use a little… attention. The Mystics finished just outside the playoffs, missing by a single game with a 14-26 record. So close, yet so very far.
The Unrivaled Hype: Is It Real or Just Smoke?
Unrivaled is shaping up to be like the WNBA’s cooler, more rebellious younger sibling. Five teams with quirky names will go head-to-head in a 3-on-3 format on a shrunken 70-foot court. Yes, you read that right—3-on-3. It’s like someone thought, “Hey, what if we made basketball, but make it TikTok-sized?”
Team names are equally eyebrow-raising: Laces Basketball Club, Lunar Owls Basketball Club, Mist Basketball Club, Phantom Basketball Club, Rose Basketball Club, and Vinyl Basketball Club. If those sound like indie rock bands, you’re not alone. It feels like the league is trying to win over hipsters who have never seen a basketball before.
After Edwards was announced, Las Vegas Aces rookie Kate Martin came in as player No. 27. With only two spots left, speculation is at an all-time high. Will they get another big name? Perhaps a rookie sensation like Caitlin Clark? Napheesa Collier certainly dropped enough hints, teasing fans that “a couple more rookies” might be on their way.
Will Edwards Shine or Shrug?
Now the big question: can Edwards bring more than just emoji-filled tweets and mid-tier stats to Unrivaled? Only time will tell. Either way, the competition just got a little more interesting, and we’re here for the drama. Stay tuned for more surprises as the Unrivaled roster nears its final form. Let’s just hope Aaliyah brings the “heat” she promised, and not just a bunch of Instagram posts.
Who will snag the last two spots? Will Caitlin Clark join the chaos? Will Unrivaled actually live up to the hype, or will it just be a glorified Instagram photo-op? One thing’s for sure—this league is going to be entertaining, whether for the basketball or the drama.