Charli Collier declares for WNBA Draft

AUSTIN, Texas — Charli Collier is moving on.

The Texas women’s basketball team’s star center/forward announced Sunday that she will forego her final year of eligibility in 2021-22 in order to enter the 2021 WNBA Draft.

In her announcement on her Twitter account, Collier thanked her family and the array of coaches who helped her develop in to the player she is.

“It is a blessing to say that I will graduate from the University of Texas this spring (2021) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Culture and Sports with a minor in Communication Studies,” Collier wrote in part of her announcement. “Education has always been a priority in my life, and I am so blessed to have attended one of the most prestigious universities in the country.”

Since the start of this season, Collier has been projected by many to be the first player taken in the draft, the dates of which have not yet been determined. The Dallas Wings hold the first pick.

Collier has thrived under first-year head coach Vic Schaefer, averaging 20.9 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Her 17 double-doubles are tied for the second-highest total among Div. I players. She is the only player in the country averaging more than 20 points and 12 boards per game.

Among the honors that have come her way this season, Collier is a finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top center, a semifinalist for the Naisemith Defensive Player of the Year award and earned a spot on the Wooden Award National Ballot.

She has accounted for 29.9 percent of UT’s scoring and 31.9 percent of the team’s rebounds. 

“I look forward to finishing this season strong,” she wrote, “with full focus on helping our team accomplish its mission.”