The Washington Mystics added three players in Monday night’s WNBA Draft, starting in the first round with UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards being selected No. 6 overall.
Washington also selected Gonzaga’s Kaylynn Truong at No. 21 overall in the second round, and Belgian import Nastja Claessens at No. 30 overall in the third round.
Edwards, a two-time All-Big East and All-American forward in 2023 and 2024, started 106 of 139 games she appeared in at UConn from 2020-24 (including all 74 the last two seasons), averaging 13.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game for her career.
The 6-foot-3 former Big East All-Freshman and Sixth Woman of the Year blossomed once moving into the starting lineup full time during the 2021-22 season, and last year, she posted career highs of 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game as the Huskies went to a four-guard lineup due to team injuries.
Edwards also has a decorated international career, as she played for her native Canada in the 2020/21 Olympic Games, and has won two silvers and a bronze representing her country in FIBA competitions.
Truong, a 5-foot-8 guard, was the 2023 WCC Player of the Year and earned All-WCC First Team honors in her last two years. She is second all-time in career assists at Gonzaga with 623, and her 161 games played is the most in Bulldogs team history as well – many played alongside her twin sister, Kayleigh.
The 2022-23 season was Truong’s best, as she averaged 15.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, the former two career highs.
Last season, she averaged 11.4 points, 2.3 boards, and 5.8 assists in 33 games, shooting 42.2 percent overall and 42.1 percent from three.
Claessens, a 19-year-old 6-foot forward, is averaging 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game this season for Castors Braine in Belgium. She also plays for their national team, where she was part of the Olympic qualifying team for this summer’s games.