Charlisse Leger-Walker is back on track to pursue her WNBA dream after recovering from an ACL injury. Photo / Photosport
By Nine To Noon of RNZ
After an injury delay, Tall Fern Charlisse Leger-Walker’s dream of becoming just the second New Zealander to play in basketball’s WNBA is back on track.
A torn ACL sidelined Leger-Walker from United States college basketball for the majority of last season and forced her to withdraw from consideration for the 2024 WNBA draft.
“I had a full year basically to recover and the process itself is pretty daunting and it’s a long one, but I’ve had a lot of great people to support me and great resources so I’m feeling really good right now.
“With these injuries it can be really hard not to just try and rush to get back and when it is taking over almost months and years. That is a long time to sit out so I’m just really glad that I didn’t do that and really took extra time almost to make sure I was feeling strong enough to come back and play.”
The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist began her NCAA career with Washington State University but is now a graduate working towards her master’s after making the move to UCLA.
“I’m going into my sixth year of being over here in college, fourth year I guess playing, but it is completely different to anything we have in New Zealand in terms of the scale of just collegiate sports and how much they put into it.
“Obviously they have a lot of money in America and they like to put a lot into their sports. So coming over here, it’s been really cool just to be a part of that system and being in games where you’re playing in front of thousands of people and you get free gear and you get free food and you kind of just get taken care of in a different way that unless you’re professional in New Zealand, isn’t really a thing for uni students.”
The 24-year-old said collegiate athletes were treated well, with support systems that ranged from massages to academic tutors, but it was not an easy ride for the players.
“It is a lot on your body, it is a lot in terms of just your time. We train for about three hours on court every day and then you add a lift session after that, which is about an hour, we have film study where we watch our practices and other teams.
“Every day we meet with our coaches, and then on top of that you also have your school, your studies as well, which takes up a big portion of your day, so it is a lot to navigate and manage.
“But I still am very grateful just to be living this and having the opportunity to travel all around America and play some amazing teams.”
The next step in Leger-Walker’s career is to turn professional and she will “for sure” put her name forward for the competitive WNBA draft after her final college season wraps up this year.
“In terms of the draft, basically anyone can put their name forward if you are eligible, which for girls you have to have completed at least three collegiate seasons, most people do four, or you have to be over the age of 21 but have played pro so you can go into the draft.
“Only 36 girls get drafted but because the rosters are so small, only 12 people get named to a roster.
“There’s really only 144 spots to go on to the WNBA so when you break it down to those numbers, it’s very hard to make teams.”
The first New Zealander to play in the WNBA, Megan Compain, is someone Leger-Walker has turned to for advice.
“She played with my mum [Leanne Walker] and I’ve had multiple conversations with her about her kind of journey into that and what she thought of it.
“Obviously it was a different time back then with the WNBA but I just think it speaks to that it is possible, and I think it’s really cool seeing people in front of you who have done that. And that’s one of the motivations for me too, just to remind people – especially girls – from New Zealand that it is possible.”
Leger-Walker had been focused on returning to playing for the UCLA Bruins before she considered whether she would be available for the Tall Ferns, a team she had played for since she was 16.
“Wearing the Tall Ferns singlet is a big part of my journey and something I want to get back to but those conversations will happen a little bit later on.”
– RNZ