Former UCLA Bruins women’s basketball star Charisma Osborne heard her name called during the 2024 WNBA Draft. Just weeks after her UCLA career ended in the Sweet 16, Osborne was selected 25th overall by the Phoenix Mercury.
She scored her first basket during some preseason action. However, she was waived days before the regular season was set to begin, per the team’s official X account.
The other players waived with Osborne were Bella Murekatete, Mya Hollinshed, Amy Atwell, Air Hearn, Jaz Shelley, and Christyn Williams.
Shelley was also drafted by the Mercury in the same round as Osborne, but both players were waived.
Shortly after the news came, Osborne took to social media to thank everybody for sending wishes:
OMG feeling all the love from so many people! Thank you for all of the kind messages 🥹💕 Trusting His timing and His plan 🙏🏾 it’s up from here!! 🤞🏾
— Charisma 🦋 (@CharismaOsborne) May 12, 2024
Each WNBA team can carry a maximum of 12 players, so with 12 teams there aren’t many spots across the country.
Nonetheless, it will be worth monitoring to see if another WNBA team decides to pick up Osborne during the course of the season.
The Phoenix Mercury today waived center Bella Murekatete, forward Mya Hollingshed and guards Amy Atwell, Air Hearn, Charisma Osborne, Jaz Shelley and Christyn Williams.
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) May 11, 2024