'When I heard my name... I think I blacked out': Kiwi WNBA star on her big moment

Charlisse Leger-Walker became the youngest-ever Tall Fern at just 16, went on to become the highest-scoring New Zealander in US college basketball, won a Pac-12 Championship at Washington State, then helped UCLA win its first-ever NCAA National Championship the biggest prize in US college basketball.

She had an inkling she was on the draft pickers’ radar during her championship-winning season with UCLA, she told RNZ’s The Mixtape.

Charlisse Leger-Walker (L) of UCLA poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (R) after being selected with the 18th pick in the second round by the Connecticut Sun during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.

Getty Images / Angelina Katsanis

“We had so many WNBA scouts and coaches and GMs come to our practices and games we did kind of get a sense of teams who were potentially looking at us and so toward the end of the year and March madness I did know I was going to get drafted but it was more of a case of when and where to?”

Off the back of an NCAA college title with the UCLA Bruins in April, Leger-Walker was picked 18th in the WNBA draft, becoming the first New Zealander to play in the league since Megan Compain in 1997.

Charlisse Leger-Walker of the UCLA Bruins makes a pass during the second half of their game against the Tennessee Lady Vols at UCLA Pauley Pavilion on 30 November 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

Luiza Moraes / Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP

When she didn’t get invited to the gala draft night in New York in April, her teammate Angela Dugalić came to the rescue- she had a table and offered Leger-Walker two seats.

This meant she could attend the evening in the company of her basketball legend mother, ex Tall Fern, mentor and coach, Leanne Walker.

“That was one of the coolest things that my teammates could have done and I’m so grateful and blessed that she was kind enough to do that.”

Draft day in New York started at 6am, she says.

“I was joking around with my sister saying I felt like it was my wedding day or something, you have a stylist, you have a make-up artist come in, everyone’s getting ready in the hotel room, you have your outfit there.”

She went through all the emotions that day, she says.

“You’re so nervous, you’re so excited, you’re sick, you’re all of the things just because you have no idea what’s going to happen, it’s also such a pivotal moment in our careers, it’s something we’ve worked out entire lives for.”

At the draft dinner, cameras were roaming from table to table, she says.

“When I heard my name, I tell everyone, I think I blacked out a little bit I obviously was so excited I remember getting up and hugging my mum.

“But as I was walking across the stage I don’t really remember that, I remember getting there and taking the photo but walking up it was just such a surreal moment like I was so excited everything that I had worked for came true.”

Charlisse Leger-Walker in her Tokomanawa Queens kit.

Leger-Walker returned home after her rookie season for the Sun to play in the domestic Tauihi League, for the Tokomanawa Queens this September.

She wants to help inspire the next generation of basketball talent, she says.

“That visibility, watching people that look like you, sound like you, talk like you, dress like you, all of the things; if you can’t see that it’s really hard to imagine yourself achieving these things and being in that role yourself.

“I absolutely love having that responsibility and especially young girls here in New Zealand maybe now that dream is a little bit more in reach for them.”

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