Lady Vols Five-Star Signee Oliviyah Edwards Talks at McDonald's All-American Game

Edwards discusses excitement to join UT program after being named a McDonald's All-American.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:08pm

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An abstract, energetic painting in a vibrant neon color palette, with rapid brushstrokes capturing the dynamic motion and competitive spirit of a basketball player.The electric energy and raw talent of top high school basketball recruits like Oliviyah Edwards shine through in an abstract, expressionist painting.Knoxville Today

Lady Vols basketball recruit Oliviyah Edwards, a five-star forward and the No. 2 player in the 2026 class, spoke to the media ahead of the McDonald's All-American Game. Edwards expressed her excitement about joining the UT program and shared her thoughts on being named a McDonald's All-American.

Why it matters

Oliviyah Edwards is one of the top high school basketball players in the country and a major signing for the Lady Vols. Her comments provide insight into her mindset as she prepares to transition from high school to college basketball at a premier program.

The details

Edwards, a five-star forward, was named a McDonald's All-American, one of the highest honors in high school basketball. At the media event, she discussed her excitement about joining the Lady Vols program and the hard work she has put in to reach this point in her career. She was joined at the podium by fellow five-star recruit Olivia Jones, who is signed to play at Vanderbilt.

  • The McDonald's All-American Game took place on Tuesday, March 30, 2026.

The players

Oliviyah Edwards

A five-star forward and the No. 2 recruit in the 2026 class, Edwards has signed to play for the Lady Vols basketball program.

Olivia Jones

A five-star recruit who has signed to play for the Vanderbilt women's basketball team.

Kim Caldwell

The head coach of the Lady Vols basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“Just seeing my name on ESPN and having my mom there recording me and everything, like, just all the feelings going through my mind and just thinking about everything I put into basketball, all the hard work I put into it, and it finally being a dream come true. Like, I got to where I wanted to go, and I'm here.”

— Oliviyah Edwards, Lady Vols Five-Star Signee

What’s next

Edwards will participate in the McDonald's All-American Game on Tuesday, March 30, 2026, before officially joining the Lady Vols program.

The takeaway

Oliviyah Edwards' comments highlight the excitement and hard work that goes into becoming one of the top high school basketball players in the country. Her signing with the Lady Vols is a major coup for the program and signals their continued ability to attract elite talent.