The best regular season win in WSU Cougars history also featured one of their largest losses.
Charlisse Leger-Walker suffered a season-ending right knee injury Sunday in the third quarter of WSU women’s basketball’s 85-82 win over then-No. 2 UCLA in Pauley Pavillion. She will undergo reconstructive surgery on her right ACL, according to a WSU Athletics statement.
“I am saddened to confirm the knee injury to Charlisse Leger-Walker is season-ending,” head coach Kamie Ethridge said in a press release.
Charlisse had 17 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 19 minutes on the floor Sunday. Ethridge said the senior was playing the best game that she had played all year.
Charlisse ends her 2023–24 season with 278 points, 137 rebounds, 107 assists and 36 steals. She became the second Coug in women’s hoops history to record two individual triple-doubles this season, once versus Maryland Nov. 23 at the Cancun Challenge and again versus Houston Dec. 17 in Beasley Coliseum.
Charlisse was preparing to travel to China this weekend for New Zealand’s Olympic trials. She was set to reunite with Krystal Leger-Walker, her sister, former Coug and Tall Ferns player and Leanne Walker, her mom, former Olympian and Tall Ferns assistant coach.
The Tall Ferns face China, Puerto Rico and France this weekend in China. A third place or higher finish would qualify them for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games–the Ferns’ first Olympics since 2008.
Charlisse could end her Cougar career near the top of numerous records. She is third in scoring with 1,743 career points, second in made threes (199), third in career minutes played (3,794), fourth in career scoring average (16.6), fourth in field goals made (607), fourth in assists (389), fifth in made free throws (330), and ninth in career starts (105).
However, Charlisse has one more year of NCAA eligibility because of her pandemic-effected freshman season.
“She absolutely could come back for another season,” Ethridge said. “Have not spoken to her about that. She’s got to see her calendar and think in terms of long-term success.”
Charlisse had her sights set on the WNBA following her fourth season at WSU. How her recovery goes coupled with the advice and projections she gets from those closest to her and WNBA scouts could greatly influence her decision.
Ethridge said the feeling of not having Charlisse finish out her senior session on her terms is devastating.
“We’ve had a Leger-Walker on the floor at some point, you know, during the season for five years now. And, you know, we knew the day would come where we wouldn’t, and you just didn’t think it was gonna happen now,” Ethridge said. “But I think we know Charlisse and we know her dreams and we know what she was wanting to do with her career, and wanting to do for this team.”
Whatever Charlisse chooses to do, the Cougars (15-6, 4-4 Pac-12) must defend their Pac-12 Championship in 2024 without her– a task easier said than done.
“We are not victims of anything. This is just an opportunity for everyone to step up and into a bigger role than they’ve ever had in our program. So do that for one another. Do that for Charlisse, do that for our program and do it for yourself,” Ethridge said. “So I think that’s the biggest message and they’ve responded in a really positive way.”
The Cougs take the court without Charlisse versus No. 6 Colorado (17-3, 7-2) at 7 p.m. Friday in Beasley Coliseum.
