My impression is that the National Teams are focused on team play, not individual development. Mixed feelings on how this will benefit Edwards.
I disagree. I believe it's a combination of both. This isn't a bad thing in my opinion. I've found from watching US/AAU-style basketball, players can be very dependent on 1-on-1 play to succeed. This doesn't translate always translate in FIBA competition based on what I've seen over the years, both with Canadian and American players.
The development program for Canada Basketball works on both, as athletes have to focus on what they bring to the team, while improving themselves. After international competitions, they're provided assessments on where they can improve which they can use with respective programs.
Mixed feelings are the result of mixed past results. Some players take advantage of the experience with the national teams and other do not. Kia Nurse benefited enormously from her time at Team Canada especially in Pan Am Games. Christyn Williams if anything played too much USA basketball. Olivia Nelson Ododa won a gold medal with THE national team in 2019 and actually looked like she belonged but was unable to use that as a spring board to better performance upon her return to UCONN. Gabby Williams never made a USA basketball team but she never stop trying out, showing up and learning. The experience is what you the player makes of it.
This is very true. It's definitely a matter of how the athlete uses the experience when they are part of the team. Heck, it was playing for the Canadian Senior National Teams that helped to put Aaliyah and Kia on UConn's radar in the first place.