Charli Collier was the No. 1 draft pick five years ago. Now, she’s hoping to return to the WNBA

[BRS24]

A blast from the past -

Charli Collier was the No. 1 draft pick five years ago. Now, she’s hoping to return to the WNBA. - Andscape

Three years since Charli Collier's last WNBA game, the 2010 No. 1 overall draft pick is vying for another opportunity in the league.

andscape.com

“When I really sat down and thought about it, it’s like, ‘No, you know, if something hard comes your way, that doesn’t mean stop – it actually means go harder,’ ” Collier said, adding that she chose to view her adversity instead as a stepping stone. “For me, it was like, ‘No, I’m going to show myself, prove to myself, that I can still be Charli.’​

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With Kayseri, Collier was asked to occupy more of a post presence, but she used the season to focus on expanding her range and refining her defense.​

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“This was one of my best seasons,” said Collier, who averaged 15.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists during the season.​

 

[GoChips20]

I feel for her - the consensus at the time was that she’d be a borderline lottery pick in a normal draft. Most players picked in 2021 are out of the league now. Someone had to go #1.

I’d like to see her make it back and hope expansion is the path.

 

[faninwisc]

I still think her leaving Texas early was a huge mistake. Vic Schaefer has always been known for developing post players and I believe with one more year of his coaching that she would have flourished. The year after they left Texas lost a close game to Stanford in the elite eight. Had she been playing in that game Texas would have most likely made the final four.

 

[BRS24]

I still think her leaving Texas early was a huge mistake. Vic Schaefer has always been known for developing post players and I believe with one more year of his coaching that she would have flourished. The year after they left Texas lost a close game to Stanford in the elite eight. Had she been playing in that game Texas would have most likely made the final four.

This was an interesting quote - "When Collier declared for the draft, she did so while also forgoing her final year of eligibility to play college basketball at Texas. While she could have played her senior season for the Longhorns and continued her development at the college level, her likelihood of leading the following year’s draft class was lower; the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft was Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard, and the 2021 draft class, considered weaker, was Collier’s best shot at being taken with the top spot."

I get it that some players stay the year, and some leave early, however, it's more important where you are drafted, then when, said some ol' coach, probably.

 

[faninwisc]

This was an interesting quote - "When Collier declared for the draft, she did so while also forgoing her final year of eligibility to play college basketball at Texas. While she could have played her senior season for the Longhorns and continued her development at the college level, her likelihood of leading the following year’s draft class was lower; the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft was Kentucky’s Rhyne Howard, and the 2021 draft class, considered weaker, was Collier’s best shot at being taken with the top spot."

I get it that some players stay the year, and some leave early, however, it's more important where you are drafted, then when, said some ol' coach, probably.

I understand. However, with another year in college she probably would have had a better shot of making a roster and staying in the league. The same thing happened with Megan Walker. She left early and was a high draft pick but obviously ready for the WNBA. Had she stayed Uconn likely would have won the national championship when Paige was a freshman.

 

[bballnut90]

I still think her leaving Texas early was a huge mistake. Vic Schaefer has always been known for developing post players and I believe with one more year of his coaching that she would have flourished. The year after they left Texas lost a close game to Stanford in the elite eight. Had she been playing in that game Texas would have most likely made the final four.

Another year definitely would've benefitted her. She needed to toughen up inside and Vic would've helped with that. In college Collier could score at will against bad teams but usually folded against quality bigs.

In regards to Texas's 2021-22 season, she could've been the difference maker to get them to the final weekend. All season they lacked a reliable post presence inside but were down by just 2 to Stanford in the Elite 8 with under 3 minutes to go. Definitely a big what if for both Collier and Texas that year.