Baylor women’s basketball coach Nicki Collen understands the letter of the law when it comes to NCAA transfer rules. But she still believes Dre’Una Edwards, who transferred from Kentucky, should be able to take the court this season.

“Do I think she deserves to play this year? Absolutely,” Collen told ESPN. “I have no problem saying that.”

The transfer to Baylor marked the second of Edwards’ college career. She started at Utah but moved to Kentucky after her freshman season, then flipped to Baylor in the most recent offseason.

As a result, the redshirt senior forward was not eligible to play for Baylor this season — unless Kentucky signed off on a “No Participation Opportunity Form.” Wildcats coach Kyra Elzy declined to sign.

The form states “that Dre’Una Edwards would not have had an opportunity to participate if she had stayed at Kentucky,” Elzy said in a statement. “That would not have been correct; Dre’Una would have had the opportunity to participate if she had stayed.”

While Collen said she understood the position of Elzy and Kentucky, she still expressed her disappointment.

“They have a right not to sign it,” she said. “It’s just discouraging when you see a kid do what she’s done, accomplish what she’s accomplished in the classroom. You only get a finite amount of time to play this game. It’s about these kids and their growth and opportunity.”

The Baylor coach told Edwards she would have an easier path if she stayed at Kentucky. Collen also cautioned her about the “worst-case scenario,” in which she would have to “sit a year to play a year” — the scenario they in which they now find themselves. Still, Edwards remained steadfast in her decision to play for Baylor.

“Dre, along with Baylor and every other school that contacted us, had the understanding that she would not be able to play right away because she did not graduate,” Elzy said Friday. “Our compliance addressed it with her in March. Everyone was clear what would happen: She would need to sit a year to play a year.”

While Edwards called out Kentucky in a social media post Thursday, expressing her desire to compete this season, Collen and Edwards already are working to prepare her for 2023-24 season and for a potential professional basketball career.

“So she just has to get in this mode that we’re getting her ready for next year,” Collen said. “Do we want that to be the case for her? Absolutely not. Do I think she deserves to play this year? Absolutely.”

Kentucky head coach Kyra Elzy took time on Friday to address the school’s refusal to sign Dre’Una Edwards’ eligibility waiver, saying that it is “not a priority.”

Edwards took to social media on Thursday, calling out the school for not signing the waiver.

On Friday, Elzy maintained that because Edwards did not graduate, she was not eligible to compete. According to Elzy, the school also addressed her eligibility in March.

“Everyone was clear what would happen, she would need to sit a year to play a year. I addressed this in March,” she said. “I’m 100 percent confident in what we offer our student-athletes academically and athletically to be successful. My priority is this program and our players. Dre decided to leave in March. We’ve moved on and she moved on and that’s where we stand.”

According to Elzy, Baylor as well as “every other school that contacted us,” knew that Edwards would not be eligible to play immediately.

“That’s part of sitting in this seat. There’s moving parts all the time. I just keep my priority and focus with this team, the staff and program,” Elzy continued. “No one else gets into our circle and we stay focused on priority.

“That situation is not a priority for me, I have bigger things to worry about and that’s not one that I’m going to spend any more time or answer any more questions about.”

Baylor women’s basketball forward Dre’Una Edwards has called out Kentucky coach Kyra Elzy in a social media post, claiming her former coach is the reason she cannot play for the Bears this season.

Because Edwards transferred once previously, from Utah to Kentucky following her freshman season, the redshirt senior was not immediately eligible to play for Baylor. In order to play this season, she needed to get her previous coach to sign off on a “No Participation Opportunity Form.”

In her social media post, Edwards called the form a “waiver” and said Elzy had refused to sign it.

“I was hopeful Kentucky would sign off to let me compete this season, as they have told me before that they hope nothing but the best for me,” she wrote. “But instead, they will not sign the waiver.”

Elzy responded to the post claiming Edwards knew she wouldn’t have immediate eligibility if she transferred.

“We were asked by Baylor to sign an NCAA No Participation Opportunity form, certifying that Dre’Una Edwards would not have had an opportunity to participate if she had stayed at Kentucky,” Elzy said in a statement. “That would not have been correct; Dre’Una would have had the opportunity to participate if she had stayed. Dre’Una transferred with the understanding that she would have to sit out unless she graduated, which she did not do.”

As Elzy references, Edwards would have been eligible if she had graduated from Kentucky and started her time at Baylor as a grad transfer.

Edwards played two seasons at Kentucky. In 2022, she averaged 16.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, helping her team earn a spot in the NCAA tournament.

In her post, Edwards states that she wore the Kentucky uniform “with pride” but wanted a change. She said she understood that since this was her second transfer, she wouldn’t be eligible to play right away unless Kentucky signed off, but hoped the program would do so.

“I think what people need to understand is, there’s a one-time transfer exception. She doesn’t qualify for that; she’s a two-time transfer,” Baylor coach Nicki Collen told reporters Thursday. “And she doesn’t qualify as a grad transfer because she didn’t graduate.

“And so, she needs a waiver to play from Kentucky. She met her Progress Towards Degree requirements by taking all the credits she took here. So she checked off the academic piece of this. But, you know, there are no guarantees.”