Former UCLA point guard Charisma Osborne is ready for the next chapter of her basketball career as she is a new member of the Phoenix Mercury.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!With the No. 25 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Phoenix selected the California native as the first of two third-round picks. The Mercury also chose Nebraska shooting guard Jaz Shelley at No. 29.
Sharing her emotions about what it means to be drafted into the WNBA, she expressed that this opportunity is special to her and can’t wait to join her new team.
“I’m super excited to be drafted to Phoenix. I know they have some really amazing players there,” Osborne said post-draft. “I think I’m super motivated. Obviously since being a kid, I’ve always wanted to play in the WNBA. To have this opportunity means the absolute world to me, and I’m just excited to go out to Phoenix and get started.”
This is your moment, @CharismaOsborne 💜 pic.twitter.com/b1OxM66u0g
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) April 16, 2024
Osborne played 152 games for UCLA, averaging 14.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 32.9 minutes per game.
Last season, Osborne averaged 13.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.0 rebounds in 34 games. UCLA ended up with a 27-7 record overall, finished third in the PAC-12 Conference and progressed to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA women’s tournament.
After five years (2019-24) as a Bruin, the 23-year-old made the All-PAC-12 list three times (2021-23) and the PAC-12 All-Defensive Team twice (2021, 2024).
When asked about how she felt about falling to the third round, Osborne couldn’t care less about where she went – as long as she was drafted.
“Yeah, I think going in the third round, that’s just a number, and I think I’m just going to go out there and do my best and show what I can,” Osborne said. “I’m really confident in my skills and my abilities. Obviously, I’ve earned this moment to be here. So I think, like I said, that’s just a number, and I’ll go out there and try my hardest and make the team.”
Joining the Mercury, Osborne will play alongside guards including Natasha Cloud, Diana Taurasi, Sophie Cunningham, Sug Sutton and more.
Being able to train around WNBA veterans who have experience at the professional level will be a key sticking point for her as she embarks on her own journey.
Knowing that she would be teaming up with Cloud and Taurasi especially, Osborne couldn’t believe she could learn from some of the league’s best.
“Yeah, I’m so excited to learn from both of them,” Osborne said. “Obviously they have a lot of great guards there, and Diana Taurasi is like the GOAT of basketball, so to be able to learn from her is going to be so fun and I can’t wait for that. Natasha Cloud, I love her energy. I loved when she used to play for [Washington] Mystics and she was so fun to watch. It’s kind of unreal to be able to say that like I’m going to be teammates with Diana Taurasi and Natasha Cloud.”
The Mercury are set to begin a two-game preseason slate, matching up first against the Seattle Storm on May 7 at 7 p.m. PT in Seattle.
Caitlin Clark, Fever set for highly-anticipated battle against Diana Taurasi, Mercury
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
