In tribute to the extraordinary legacy of Iowa women’s basketball pioneer and Hall of Famer Michelle Edwards, the basketball court at Titus Sparrow Park in Boston has officially been dedicated to the South End native. The court has been named Michelle “Ice” Edwards Court.
The dedication celebrates Edwards’ lifelong impact on the sport, spanning her time on Sparrow Park’s court to the hardwood of Carver-Hawkeye Arena and the professional ranks.
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Before making her mark on the global stage, Edwards made history as the first girl in Massachusetts to score 2,000 career points in high school. She then became the offensive motor behind head coach C. Vivian Stringer’s dominant Hawkeye teams of the late 1980s, leading Iowa to consecutive Big Ten championships and back-to-back NCAA Tournament regional final appearances in 1987 and 1988 during her playing career in Iowa City from 1984-88.
During her unforgettable senior campaign in 1987-88, Edwards guided Iowa to a 29-2 record and a No. 1 national ranking. Edwards was selected as the Big Ten Player of the Year, a Kodak, Naismith, and USBWA All-American, and the Champion National Player of the Year.
Edwards finished her Hawkeye career with 1,821 points, 431 assists, and 235 steals, all of which still rank in the top 10 in program history.
In recognition of her immense impact, Edwards became the first player to have her number (No. 30) retired by the Iowa women’s basketball program, was inducted into the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.
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Following her storied collegiate career, Edwards blazed a trail both domestically and internationally. She spent several successful seasons playing professionally in Italy, winning an Italian Championship and earning league MVP honors three times.
When the WNBA launched in 1997, Edwards returned to the United States as one of the league’s initial marquee players, selected by the Cleveland Rockers in the 1997 WNBA Elite Draft. During her five-year WNBA career with the Rockers and the Seattle Storm, she totaled 1,141 points, 329 assists, and 126 steals before retiring in 2001.
Edwards now serves as an assistant coach with Rutgers and has been involved with the Scarlet Knights’ women’s basketball program since 2003.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa women’s basketball legend honored with court naming in Boston
