As the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball season picks up pace, so do old rivalries. As the Huskies and Lady Vols went to war on the court, these WNBA stars took the battle to Instagram. Who had the final word? 

The 22-year-old Washington Mystics star Aaliyah Edwards took to Instagram to show her unwavering support for her former college team, the UConn Huskies. While Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards felt the sting of the Huskies’ 80-76 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers, she made sure to drum up support in the buildup of the match. And, of course, while doing so, targeting a former Lady Vols star. 

Edwards’s story on Instagram featured a short boomerang video of the match playing on her television. She captioned the video with: “@rickea go huskiessss 🐺💙” and “BLEED BLUE.” As is evident, Edwards tagged the former Lady Vols athlete Rickea Jackson. Jackson, also a staunch supporter of the Big Orange, didn’t hold back. The 23-year-old reposted Edwards’ story with the caption, “Absolutely NOTT!!!!!! #LVFL” in response to Edward’s support for the Huskies.

As the minutes finally ticked out, the Lady Vols emerged victorious over the Huskies with an inspired performance from Junior forward Zee Spearman, who racked up 16 points. The Lady Vols reveled in their stunning upset, and Jackson wasted no time rubbing it in. Jackson’s next story featured a picture of the victorious Tennessee side on her television screen with a sarcastic caption that said, “OHHHHH???? #LADYVOLS 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡” at the top and tagged Edwards at the bottom. 

Despite their disappointing performances, Jackson’s support for her team paid dividends as the Lady Vols beat the Huskies for the first time since 2007. The Big Orange also clinched their first win over a big-five team since 2021 when they valiantly beat the second-placed South Carolina Gamecocks. The Lady Vols joined the elite company, becoming only the third team to defeat the 21-3 Huskies this season.

Only the Tennessee Volunteers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the USC Trojans have managed to defeat the Huskies, who have dominated the Big East. Big performances from Zee Spearman (16 points), Samara Spencer (14), and Jewel Spear (12) helped Tennessee gain some momentum before an important clash against LSU this Sunday.

How Do The Two Know Each Other?

Rickea played a crucial role in the Big Orange’s basketball setup, averaging 19.2 and 20.2 PPG, respectively, in the two seasons (22/23 and 23/24) she spent at Tennessee. Her stellar showings at the college level made her the 4th overall pick during the 2024 WNBA draft, moving to the Los Angeles Sparks for a four-year contract worth $338,056.

Edwards and Jackson developed a friendly relationship, notably through their camaraderie in the  Unrivalled Basketball League. The duo plays together for Mist Basketball Club. Since being drafted into the same team, the two interact with each other via Instagram and TikTok. They frequently comment on each other’s posts, make trendy TikToks, and give interviews together.

UBC’s inaugural season started on January 17, 2025. Fans of the two stars can see them in action together today against Rose Basketball Club at 7:55 PM EST. Edwards and Jackson are set to go up against stars such as Kahlea Copper and Lexie Hull. Can this unexpected pairing move past their college rivalries to take on Rose Basketball Club at Unrivalled?