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WOMEN’S NATIONAL Basketball Association (WNBA) star Aaliyah ‘Jackie’ Edwards of the Washington Mystics will be the special guest at today’s Jamaica Basketball Association’s (JABA) Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) rally at Jamaica College starting at 2:30 p.m.
Edwards, whose parents are Jamaican and whose father is a Jamaica College graduate, is in the island for the annual ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, which concluded at the National Stadium yesterday.
Edwards’ visit opened the door to the opportunity for shining light on the women’s basketball game in the island.
Edwards told The Gleaner that she will take the opportunity to share her experiences with the young ladies, while noting that she will be back in the island later in the year for her own camp, which will be sponsored by Adidas.
“This is my off-season. So I am not doing so much up-and-down now. I am going to coach just a little bit (on Sunday). But when I come back in the fall, it will be more of a clinic.
“For now, it is just to showcase their skills. Have a little meet and greet and a little Q and A. It is an opportunity to speak to me and learn from me and my experiences,” she said.
She said being at the rally will allow her to forge useful connections for when she returns later in the year.
“This event is kind of like a feeder tournament for the women’s national team. The main reason I am here is because I want to tap into my roots. I’m Jamaican and Canadian as well.
“I really love coming here and coming to Boys and Girls’ Champs, for as long as I can remember. And I am looking to do a girls’ basketball camp later in the fall this year.
“So this is a good opportunity to start building some connections and relationships with the young girls and young women who are passionate about basketball.
“I am an ambassador for Adidas Canada, and I am looking to do some stuff down here with the brand for my camp.
“I am very passionate for my camp and helping out different communities, which are so dear to my heart, and that is the country of Jamaica
“I am also working with the minister of sports to get the camp done. But Adidas is a proud sponsor that will help us facilitate all of that,” she disclosed.
She added that women’s sports in North America is receiving a lot of attention and she is hoping to bring as much of that limelight as possible to women’s basketball in Jamaica.
“Men’s basketball gets a lot of hype. But we need a lot more hype around women’s basketball. Women’s basketball and women’s sport in North America are getting a lot of hype and we want to bring that same hype down here to Jamaica.
“I know the people here love their sports and love to see the next generation and I am just super excited about meeting these girls.”
livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com
