JABA boss hails Edwards’ contribution to local basketball
Published:Saturday | February 18, 2023 | 1:04 AM
Honouring her contributions to the development of Jamaican basketball and how she became a pioneer for local women in the game, Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) president Paulton Gordon paid tribute to former Jamaican basketballer Simone Edwards still absorbing the shock of her untimely passing.
Edwards died on Thursday at age 49 after a two-year battle with ovarian cancer. Despite not playing the sport in high school, Edwards was scouted by an American basketball coach and rose from having a strong junior college and Division One collegiate career to becoming the first Jamaican player to play in the WNBA.
While her accomplishments on the court were many and included helping the Seattle Storm to a WNBA title in 2004, it was her commitment to the growth of basketball locally that Gordon remembers her fondly for.
“The network she created because of that (her WNBA career), she brought that to bear on Jamaican basketball. I remember some years ago we were trying to put together the women’s team and the level of support she got from some of the hoteliers who had connections to her network in Seattle and the USA made that training camp one the best that we have ever had,” Gordon told The Gleaner.
She would play a role in Jamaican basketball as a coach for the women’s team, guiding them to the 2014 Caribbean Championship as well as bringing them close to qualifying for the World Championships. Her death came as a shock for Gordon who said he spoke to her three weeks ago.
“She has been very good for Jamaica basketball. She has been a stalwart and the passion that she brought to the table is hard to match. We are really saddened by the loss. We mourn with her family and friends. We are just trying to recover from this shock,” Gordon shared.
Gordon said plans are now being discussed on how to honour her legacy and her impact. Edwards was conferred with the Order of Distinction in 2017 and Gordon said he is happy that she was recognised for her work while she was alive.
“It was really timely. We know of all of her accolades and her involvement in the sport and the spotlight she tried to put on Jamaican basketball over the last 20 years or so. When she was nominated and subsequently received that accolade, we were quite happy as a basketball family,” Gordon said.
Tributes came pouring in from Sports Minister Olivia Grange to Prime Minister Andrew Holness who celebrated the trail that she blazed for local women players.
“Jamaica and the basketball fraternity have lost a super athlete with the passing of Simone and I extend sincere condolences to her family, relatives, former team members and friends,” Grange said in a social media post on Thursday.
Indiana Fever general manager Lin Dunn who coached Edwards during her first three seasons in Seattle remembered her as a player full of life and vigour.
“Simone was a gift to everyone, full of joy and energy. She played the top of our shadow press and I always told her she was my favourite shadow ever. I can still see that smile,” Dunn told ESPN on Thursday.