Baylor women's basketball player sends plea to Kentucky after Wildcats denies waiver

Dre’una Edwards, who transferred from Kentucky to play women’s basketball at Baylor, was denied a waiver request to play this season.

Edwards is now ineligible but sent a plea to be able to play this season. Edwards played at Utah as a freshman in 2018-19 before transferring to Kentucky and played in 53 games (23 starts) over the last two years with the Wildcats.

Edwards released a statement requesting to play for Baylor with the hashtag “FreeDree.”

“I know there have been a lot of questions about my eligibility and why I am not playing, and I want to give an explanation why,” Edwards wrote. “First off, I left Kentucky because I personally decided that I needed a new start. I gave all that I had to Kentucky and wore the uniform with pride. But I wanted a change because I knew a change would be great for me.

“Entering the portal, I knew that I would not be eligible right away because this is my second transfer. The NCAA has other rules in place that could help me see the floor this year with Baylor if I met the requirements and Kentucky would allow me to play. My first requirement was to make sure I was eligible academically by making sure I am continuing progress towards my degree. I didn’t qualify as a grad transfer, but I have been working extremely hard in the classroom and I was able to rally 33 credit hours in the last six months, ending the fall semester with a 3.6 GPA and a spot on the Big 12 All-Academic Team.

“While doing this, I also managed to branch out in student life at Baylor, and more specially, Greek life. I joined the SGRHO sorority because I wanted to be more involved in the community outside of basketball. Our motto is ‘Greater Service, Greater Progress’ and that means a lot to me. The next and final step is for Kentucky and head women’s basketball coach Kyra Elzy to sign off on a final waiver. I was hopeful Kentucky would sign off to let me compete this season, as they have told before that they hope nothing but the best for me.

“But instead, they will not sign the waiver. With that being said, this is where I stand now in hopes that they change their mind.”

The Kentucky athletic department released a statement in reaction to Edwards’ plea.

“We were asked by Baylor to sign an NCAA No Participation Opportunity form, certifying that Dre’una Edwards would not have had an opportunity to participate if she had stayed at Kentucky,” the statement read. “That would not have been correct; Dre’una would have had the opportunity to participate if she had stayed. Dre’una transferred with the understanding that she would have to sit out unless she graduated, which she did not do.”

Edwards averaged 16.8 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game with a team high 52.1% field goal percentage for Kentucky last season.