Culver City Observer -

NEW YORK – Charisma Osborne is headed to the desert!

With the first pick in the third round of the 2024 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm, the Phoenix Mercury selected UCLA legend Charisma Osborne to join the team ahead of the 2024 WNBA season.

An undisputed all-time great for UCLA, Osborne finishes her decorated collegiate career as the second Pac-12 guard in Conference history with 2,000+ points, 800+ rebounds (joining Sabrina Ionescu from the University of Oregon). The Moreno Valley native etched her name into UCLA's all-time record book and lands in the top 10 in 13 separate statistical categories. She played 152 games for the Bruins and finishes as the all-time leader in games played, games started (150 GS), and three-pointers made (282 3FGM). Osborne earned four All-Pac-12 and two All-Defensive Team selections during her time in the Westwood.

"My heart is overflowing with excitement for Charisma," said the Michael Price Family UCLA Women's Head Basketball Coach Cori Close. "This is a dream come true, and I believe she is just scratching the surface of how amazing she will be in the WNBA. Charisma is a hard worker and elite defender with a high basketball IQ, and she does the intangibles – screening, rebounding, deflections – at such a high level. Bottom line... the WNBA is getting a great one in Charisma Osborne!"

The shooting guard becomes the seventh Bruin to be drafted to the W after playing for Coach Close, the seventeenth overall.

Some of Osborne's career highlights can be found below.

HONORS: WBCA All-America Honorable Mention... two-time Pac-12 All-Tournament Team... four-time All-Pac-12 Team (Coaches)... two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Team (Coaches)... Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Top 5 Finalist ... Naismith Trophy Midseason Team honoree... USBWA All-America Watch List... Pac-12 Winter Academic Honor Roll... Pac-12 All-Freshman... UCLA STATISTICAL RANKS (Single Season): 5th – 3-pointers attempted (185); 7th – free throw percentage (.875, 2021-22); 8th – 3-pointers made (59, twice); 10th – field goal attempts (514, 2022-23); 13th – points (571, 2022-23)... UCLA STATISTICAL RANKS (All-Time): 1st – 3-pointers made (282); 1st – 3-pointers attempted (873); 1st – games played (152); 1st – games started (150); 2nd – points scored (2,272); 2nd – field goals attempted (2,014); 3rd – free throw percentage (.853); T-3rd – field goals made (768); 4th – free throws made (454); 7th – assists (477); T-7th – free throws attempted (532); 10th – rebounds (845); T-10th – 20-point games (35).