Tacoma’s Oliviyah Edwards, nation’s No. 2 player, goes out swinging for Lincoln
Win or lose, Oliviyah Edwards was determined to go out swinging.
And swing, she did. In Saturday night’s Class 3A state tournament regional round game against Lakeside (Seattle) at Bellevue College, Edwards put her Lincoln team on her back, pouring in a game-high 38 points. For a stretch in the second half, it looked like the superstar might just will the Abes to next week’s 3A state tournament at the Tacoma Dome.
It was a Herculean effort, but it wasn’t quite enough. Lakeside hung on to win, 57-50, ending Lincoln’s season. It also ended Edwards’ career.
While she only spent two seasons at Lincoln, she’ll go down as one of the best from Tacoma to ever suit up on the basketball court. Edwards, a national recruit and Tennessee commit, is considered the No. 2 overall player in the country and was named to this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game roster.
“I feel good with how I played,” Edwards said. “I feel like I left it out on the court. That’s all you can really do is leave it out on the court.”
Lakeside’s coach could be heard shouting “Double, double!” throughout the entire game. Those double (and triple) teams came Edwards’ way often this year.
“I’m used to it,” she said. “I feel like it’s every game.”
Edwards played her freshman year at Lincoln High before spending her sophomore and junior years at Isaaquah’s “Elite Prep.” She returned to Lincoln for her senior season.
“I’m definitely excited to go to the next level, but it’s fun to play with your peers, with your family watching,” Edwards said. “That’s something I know I’ll miss.”
Edwards, a 6-foot-3 forward, has been a national recruit for years. She could dunk a basketball at age 13. She was offered by Oregon and Ohio State when she was in seventh grade. Her mix of height, length, touch around the rim, footwork, handles, stepback and midrange game have made her one of the country’s most coveted prospects.
She’ll head to Tennessee sometime in June, but first, will play in the WIBCA all-state game, the Washington vs. Oregon game and in the McDonald’s All-American Game in Phoenix, Arizona on March 31.
This story was originally published February 28, 2026 at 8:42 PM.
