Simone Edwards, who was the first Jamaican woman to play in the WNBA, has died at age 49. According to the Seattle Times, the former Seattle Storm player had been privately dealing with health concerns after being diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in May 2021.

Edwards, who had been the national spokeswoman for Caribbean American Heritage Month since 2017, also founded the Simone4Children Learning Center in her hometown of Kingston, Jamaica.

The star athlete grew up competing in track and field. But Edwards proved herself as a basketball star at Seminole State College in Seminole, Oklahoma. She then transferred to Iowa for her senior season.

Edwards, who took part in a New York Liberty tryout when the WNBA began in 1997, made her league debut three years later. She started her career with the expansion Storm and won the WNBA championship with them in 2004.

Edwards retired in 2005. She finished her career as the team’s all-time leader in rebounds, games and minutes played.

“We are saddened by the passing of our very own Simone Edwards,” the Storm tweeted on Thursday. “Our Jamaican Hurricane was a warrior on & off the court. With her indefatigable energy & optimism, she brought happiness to so many. Our thoughts & condolences are with Simone’s family and loved ones at this time.”

WNBA stars Sue Bird and Betty Lennox joined other players in 2021 to lead a fundraiser dinner for Edwards, who joined the party virtually.

“To see her talk now tells you she’s a warrior; the same warrior that was on that basketball court, to win that championship,” Lennox said at the party. “The same way we came together to win that championship is the same way we’re coming together to beat that thing called cancer.”

“Simone is a fighter. There’s no one like her. … They say certain people light up a room, well Simone is one of those people,” Bird added at the fundraiser. “She lights up a room. Simone has this way of making people around her feel good. That’s her gift.”

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