UConn's Aaliyah Edwards signs NIL deal in Canada, but can't talk about it in the US

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this week with adidas Canada, but wasn't allowed to speak with reporters in Connecticut about it on Tuesday, for fear that promoting the deal might jeopardize her student visa. Under current United States law, Edwards, who is from Kingston, Ontario, and other international students can only make money in this country with passive NIL deals. She gets a little something, for example, if someone buys a jersey with her name on it at the campus bookstore.

But unlike her teammate Paige Bueckers, who is estimated to be worth more than half a million dollars in the NIL world, Edwards can't actively participate in endorsements in the United States. Her financial security no doubt made it a bit easier for Bueckers to decide she will come back to UConn for another season rather than enter this year's WNBA draft. Edwards and fellow international player Nika Muhl (Croatia) also have eligibility remaining, but neither of them have announced whether they plan to return or turn pro.

Edwards said Tuesday that her decision will be based on basketball and achieving the goals she has for herself and the Huskies. But she acknowledged that money is also a factor. “Maybe a little bit," she said.

“It's a little influence. But it's really about the team." Adidas did not release terms of Edwards NIL deal, but a spokeswoman told The Associated Press Tuesday that the company is "being respectful of the NIL rules and Aaliyah will only participate in Canada during her NIL adidas Canada deal." Muhl said she's pretty much made a decision on whether to return to UConn and is just waiting for the right time to make an announcement. The senior guard said because she never had NIL money and it wasn't part of the reason she chose to play at UConn, it won't