Q&A with Whitny Edwards

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Junior guard Whitny Edwards and the Virginia women’s basketball team hits the road for two ACC contests in the next four days. The Cavaliers travel to NC State for a 7 p.m. contest Thursday in Raleigh, N.C. On Sunday, UVa heads to College Park, Md., for a rematch with the Terrapins. Edwards, a native of Charlotte, N.C., recently sat down with VirginiaSports.com to talk about how she’s improved, her major and some books and television shows she recommends.

Question: What is the team chemistry like this year?
Edwards: We have really good chemistry, especially off the court. We are trying to bring more of that on the court. You can see in the last couple of games, we are starting to click, and right now is a really good time for that. We are going to try to make our run and move up in the ACC standings.

Question: How have you improved from the first day you set foot on Grounds until now?
Edwards: I think I am just more confident on the court. Before I was hesitant and not always sure what to do. Now I know what the team needs from me – and that’s pretty much defense and rebounding. I have been trying to look on the small things like improving my ball handling, getting my shot off quicker and being more of a vocal leader.

Question: What has been your favorite arena to play in other than JPJA?
Edwards: I really love the Duke arena (Cameron Indoor Stadium) because it’s such a good atmosphere and you are really able to feed off the crowd. I love playing Duke – they are a really good team – and playing in that arena is really special.

Question: Have you declared a major yet?
Edwards: Yes, I am an English major.

Question: Do you have any dream jobs or career aspirations?
Edwards: I am up and down. I really wanted to go to law school, but I am not 100 percent certain about that. I have been thinking about maybe trying to be a sports agent or something in that field. I have been around basketball and I love it so much. I want to still be around the game – in an office, or maybe coaching.

Question: What do you love about the game of basketball?
Edwards: I just love how you can go on the court and connect with your team and have so much fun. For me, really, it’s about expressing my personality on the court because I am really shy off the court. I love being able to make plays and pump up my teammates. I love feeding off the energy of the crowd. I love this team – it is a close, fun team to be a part of.

Question: Have you had a favorite class at UVa?
Edwards: I have had a lot of favorites. I really like my African-American literature classes. They have been really interesting to me and have opened my eyes to different novels and authors that I really enjoy.

Question: What do you like to do for fun?
Edwards: I watch TV a lot and read. I love to read. I am always in my room with a book.

Question: What are some good books you have read lately?
Edwards: The Twilight series – I really love those books. I got into another series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It’s a trilogy and I read all three books in a week-and-a-half over the break.

Question: Any TV shows you can recommend?
Edwards: I love Top Chef, Law & Order, Cake Boss, all of the Housewives shows. Those are my favorites right now.