It’s UCLA for Kiwi star in initial bid for WNBA
Kiwi basketball phenom Charlisse Leger-Walker is heading to UCLA to play her final year of college hoops – a move she hopes will springboard into a shot at the WNBA next year.
Leger-Walker confirmed this week on social media her transfer from Washington State University, where she has spent a glittering last four years, to the renowned University of California, Los Angeles for her fifth and final season of collegiate eligibility. The 22-year-old Waikato prodigy elected to return for a fifth college year (allowable under regulations introduced around Covid) after having her 2023-24 season wrecked by a major knee injury. However, she elected to enter the transfer portal after Washington State was left without a permanent home following the dismantling of the Pac-12 conference.
UCLA, one of the powerhouse sporting colleges, has jumped ship to the Big Ten.
Leger-Walker was a standout performer for Washington State throughout her four years, winning Pac-12 freshman of the year in 2021 and averaging 18.8 points in leading the Cougars to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 30 years.
The Kiwi also guided Washington State to the NCAA tournament in her sophomore and junior seasons, and was named the Pac-12 tournament's MVP in 2023 when she inspired the Cougars to that title.
She ticked off 21 games in ‘23-24 before suffering a season-ending ACL injury on January 28 in a Cougars victory over UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. Now that will be Leger-Walker's home arena next season when she joins a stacked Bruins squad that returns most of its core, apart from now-Phoenix Mercury guard Charisma Osborne.
The Waikato hoopster will look for
astrong season with the Bruins to showcase her abilities ahead of the 2025 WNBA draft. She is aiming to become just the second Kiwi in history to play in the US league.
UCLA went 27-7 last season and advanced to the NCAA’s Sweet 16 for the second straight time.
With Leger-Walker in the midst of a long rehabilitation, it’s not known if she will be ready for the start of the ‘24-25 season.