It was announced on Thursday that Charisma Osborne would be returning to the Phoenix Mercury, following the release of Morgan Bertsch.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Mercury drafted Osborne 25th overall in 2024, later releasing her following training camp. Osborne has already been around the team, and is excited to pick up where she left off.
“It was so good to see everyone and just be back in this environment,” Osborne said. “It’s been nothing but good vibes since I’ve been back. I’m so excited.”
Being cut is no easy feat, but often, it can create the best stories. Despite being waived right before the season, Osborne kept her head held high in, staying patient and continuing to grind for the next opportunity.
“I did a lot of training, I was training like six days a week,” Osborne said. “I was also still in school, I was finishing school at UCLA. So just balancing those two.”
“People around me, just a credit to them for believing in me and telling me to keep going.”
Our @AlecCipollini asked newly signed Phoenix Mercury Charisma Osborne about battling through adversity of being cut and now returning.#ValleyTogether #WNBA pic.twitter.com/8DI2f1Cb20
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) June 13, 2024
“It’s tough getting cut and still wanting to play and work hard,” Osborne added. “People around me, just a credit to them for believing in me and telling me to keep going and just being patient.”
Osborne spent five seasons at UCLA, where she compiled a handful of accolades. She was a four-time All-Pac-12 teamer, as well as a two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive team member. Osborne is just 5-foot-9, but is a scrappy, tenacious defender. She looks to bring that same identity to Phoenix.
“I think I bring a lot of defensive intensity, I know that’s something that they really want out of me,” Osborne said. “I think that’s the biggest thing. Just being a pest on defense, and on offense, just making plays when I can.”
At 22-years-old, Osborne becomes the youngest player on the Mercury. Surrounded by seasoned veterans and Olympians who have seen it all, Osborne looks to soak in all the experience and knowledge she can with the resources around her.
“To be able to learn from them, I know I am going to grow so much.”
Phoenix Mercury guard Charisma Osborne responding to our @AlecCipollini about being able to learn from players like Diana Taurasi, Natasha Cloud, etc.#ValleyTogether #WNBA pic.twitter.com/CWlMWy5HfU
— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) June 13, 2024
“Obviously there’s three Olympians on the team, and obviously there’s [Natasha Cloud], and I can name literally everybody,” Osborne said. “It’s just so cool to be around them, and just to be able to learn from them, I just know I’m going to learn so much.”
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Justin LaCertosa covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @LaCertosaSports
