Charisma Osborne Bio
Charisma Osborne (born July 3, 2001) is an American professional basketball player who previously played for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. She was drafted by the Mercury in the 2024 WNBA draft after a standout college career at UCLA. A versatile guard known for her scoring, rebounding, and playmaking, Osborne emerged as one of the top players in UCLA women’s basketball history. Standing 175 cm and weighing 75 kg, she built a reputation as a reliable two-way contributor and a consistent long-range shooter.
Born in Fontana, California, Osborne rose through the ranks as a five-star recruit and one of the most decorated high school players in the state. Her combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ made her a matchup problem at every level. After five seasons with the UCLA Bruins, she turned professional and joined the Mercury, beginning her WNBA journey in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Charisma Osborne was born on July 3, 2001, in Fontana, California, and grew up in the greater Los Angeles area. She attended the Windward School in Los Angeles, where she played for head coach Vanessa Nygaard. From her earliest high school seasons, Osborne displayed an advanced feel for the game, balancing scoring with strong rebounding and passing.
As a sophomore, she led Windward to a Division I state title, establishing herself as a rising star in California basketball. During her junior year, Osborne guided the team to the Open Division state championship and earned California Ms. Basketball honors. Her senior season brought further recognition, including a selection to the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Los Angeles Times Player of the Year award for the third straight season.
Rated as a five-star recruit by ESPN, Osborne committed to UCLA over offers from Duke, Louisville, Ohio State, and USC. Her path from Fontana to a top-tier college program reflected years of consistent development, leadership, and high-level performance against elite competition.
Path to Basketball
Osborne’s path to high-level basketball began with a strong foundation in the Los Angeles prep scene. Her early success at Windward, where she helped deliver state championships and individual awards, set the stage for national attention. By the time she finished high school, she was considered one of the best guards in her recruiting class.
The recruiting process gave Osborne a clear picture of the college landscape, and her commitment to UCLA provided a platform to compete in the Pac-12 and on the national stage. Her experience with USA Basketball also helped shape her professional approach. She won a gold medal with the United States at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup, averaging 4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. That international exposure added another layer to her development before she ever wore a UCLA uniform.
Charisma Osborne Career
UCLA Bruins Career (2020–2024)
Charisma Osborne joined the UCLA Bruins in 2020 and immediately made an impact as a freshman. She averaged 12.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game and was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team. Her 59 three-pointers set a UCLA record for most threes by a freshman in program history. On February 26, 2021, she recorded her first career triple-double, posting 18 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds in a 93–51 win over USC.
As a sophomore, Osborne elevated her production, averaging 17 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, earning All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors. Her junior season brought another All-Pac-12 selection, with averages of 16.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. In the second round of the 2023 NCAA tournament, she scored a career-high 36 points in an 82–73 victory over Oklahoma, announcing herself on a national stage.
In her senior season, Osborne averaged 15.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game and was named All-Pac-12 for the third consecutive year. Despite being projected as a top-10 pick in the 2023 WNBA draft, she returned to UCLA for a fifth season, using the extra year of eligibility granted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that final season, she moved into second place on the all-time scoring list for UCLA women’s basketball, cementing her legacy with the program.
Phoenix Mercury (2024)
Charisma Osborne was selected by the Phoenix Mercury as the first pick of the third round, 25th overall, in the 2024 WNBA draft. The selection marked the start of her professional career in the WNBA and rewarded her for one of the most productive careers in recent UCLA history.
Her rookie season proved difficult. On May 11, 2024, Osborne was waived by the Mercury, only to be re-signed on June 13, 2024. She appeared in just two regular-season games during her rookie year, as injuries limited her availability. Despite the small sample size, her development remained a long-term focus for the organization.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Osborne’s most memorable moments was her 36-point performance against Oklahoma in the 2023 NCAA tournament, a career high that highlighted her scoring ceiling. She also became only the second player in UCLA women’s basketball history to climb that high on the program’s all-time scoring list. Her early-season waiver and return to the Mercury in 2024 was another defining chapter, showing her resilience through an unusual rookie year.
Charisma Osborne Career Wins
Charisma Osborne’s trophy case is anchored by her years of individual recognition at UCLA, including four All-Pac-12 selections and two Pac-12 All-Defensive Team nods. While team championship totals in college were not central to her resume, her awards reflected sustained excellence across all five seasons. On the international stage, she earned a gold medal with the United States at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup and a silver medal at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Mexico, where she averaged 5.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and a team-high 3 assists per game.
UCLA Highlights
Across her five seasons with the UCLA Bruins, Osborne established herself as one of the program’s all-time greats. She earned Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors in 2020, Pac-12 All-Defensive and All-Pac-12 honors in 2021, and continued her All-Pac-12 run through 2022, 2023, and 2024. Her selection to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team in 2024 capped a defensive résumé that began with her earliest college years.
Other Wins and Performances
Osborne helped Windward School capture a Division I state title as a sophomore and an Open Division state championship as a junior. She was a 2019 McDonald’s All-American, a 2018 California Ms. Basketball, and a three-time Los Angeles Times Player of the Year. At the international level, her gold medal with the United States at the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup and her silver medal at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup highlighted her value on the national team stage.
Charisma Osborne Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Charisma Osborne was raised in Fontana, California, and built her basketball foundation in the Los Angeles area. Her high school years at Windward School, where she trained under coach Vanessa Nygaard, played a central role in her development as a player and leader. The support system around her in those years helped shape a career that led to UCLA and the WNBA.
Personal Life
Osborne has kept her personal life largely private, and public details about her family, relationships, and off-court interests are limited. She has focused her public presence on her basketball career and her professional journey from UCLA to the Phoenix Mercury. Further personal details have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Charisma Osborne’s focus shifts toward establishing a consistent role with the Phoenix Mercury after a 2024 rookie season limited by injury and roster movement. The Mercury waived and re-signed her within weeks in mid-2024, and her two-game sample size left plenty of room for growth. A healthier, more stable 2025 would allow her to translate her UCLA production into a steady WNBA contribution.
Osborne’s track record suggests she has the tools to compete for rotation minutes. She finished her UCLA career as the second-leading scorer in program history, was a four-time All-Pac-12 selection, and earned Pac-12 All-Defensive honors twice. Her ability to score from the perimeter, rebound at a high level for her position, and facilitate offense gives Phoenix a flexible option on the wing.
The 2025 season will be a defining opportunity for Osborne to prove that her college résumé translates to the professional level. If she can stay healthy and find a consistent role, her combination of experience, scoring, and defensive instincts should make her a valuable piece of the Mercury’s plans.