Wings Announce Release of Charli Collier, 2021 No. 1 Draft Pick

The former Texas standout played in 45 games in two seasons in Dallas.

The Wings released former Texas star Charli Collier to finalize their roster ahead of the 2023 WNBA season.

Collier, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2021 WNBA draft, played in 45 games while starting 18, averaging 2.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.1 blocks in 9.4 minutes per game in two seasons in Dallas. All of her starts came during her rookie season, one in which she was named to the WNBA All-Rookie team.

Shortly after the team announced Collier’s release on Wednesday, she tweeted a note with the caption “God doesn’t make mistakes,” while sharing that she appreciates her growth as player over the last two seasons.

“Today is a hard day, but I am proud of the work I have put in here and know there are better things ahead,” Collier wrote. “I went overseas, grew as a player and got better. …I was told that if not for injuries at other spots I would have been on the team. That’s a hard thing to hear.

“… I am thankful for every lesson and will use all the negativity that comes today as fuel to be great.”

Collier entered the WNBA after her junior season at Texas, one in which she averaged 19 points, 1.2 blocks, and 11.3 rebounds per game while shooting 51.1% from the field. When she was drafted, she became the first Big 12 player taken at No. 1 since Brittney Griner by the Mercury in 2013.