Aaliyah Edwards' Unrivaled Season Halted by Injury: A Moment of Suspense
The Unrivaled 3x3 women's basketball league's second season experienced a dramatic pause as Aaliyah Edwards, a key player, suffered an injury during a game. This incident immediately brought the match to a halt, leaving fans and fellow players in a state of concern.
During the Monday game between the Lunar Owls and Rose, with just over a minute left in the third quarter, Edwards, who had previously been the runner-up in the inaugural Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament last February, was attempting a breakaway layup. She had received a pass from her teammate, Marina Mabrey, and was moving towards the basket.
But here's where it gets controversial...
As Edwards went up for the shot, Shakira Austin blocked her from behind, causing her to fall hard. Her head hit the padded base of the hoop, and the defender landed directly on her leg. The impact was significant, and Edwards was visibly in pain on the court.
Several players from the Rose immediately sprang into action, pushing a camera away to give Edwards some privacy. Others formed a protective circle around her with towels while the medical staff attended to her. The replay of the incident, shown in slow motion, highlighted the severity of the fall.
Analyst Lisa Leslie provided commentary, stating, "That was tough right there because Aaliyah Edwards landed very awkwardly. And again, no malice intended but it was the landing... And then the leg spins the wrong way. That's one of those yoga poses. You see somebody in the pose that I don't think you're supposed to be in, that's tough." She further added that injuries are "always the toughest part of the game."
And this is the part most people miss...
Fortunately, Edwards was able to walk off the court, cheered on by the fans at the Sephora Arena. She was later ruled out for the rest of the game due to an upper-body injury. Before her early exit, Edwards had a strong performance, scoring 23 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and making one steal. She shot 10 out of 19 from the field, leading her team in all these categories.
Following the incident, social media was flooded with messages of support and well wishes for Edwards. Many fans expressed relief that she could walk off the court and hoped for a speedy recovery. One X user wrote, "Happy to see Aaliyah Edwards getting up and walking under her own power hope she'll be okay," while another suggested she be put on concussion protocol. A third fan commented, "I’m amazed & very glad Aaliyah Edwards was able to get up and look ok after that fall cuz that was a scary one."
Earlier in the week, Edwards had expressed her excitement about playing in Unrivaled again, where she gained national recognition last season. Lisa Leslie mentioned that Edwards was looking forward to the opportunity. She added, "Not that she is hurt but the opportunity that she'll have to fill these plays, playing in the winter. So we hope that she can recover from whatever her injury is right now and still have the opportunity to play."
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