Former No. 1 overall pick Charli Collier isn’t letting her recent cut from the WNBA’s Dallas Wings get her down.

With the Wings’ decision to waive Collier, just seven players from the 2021 WNBA Draft remain on rosters ahead of the 2023 season. Of course, that number could decrease as teams look to make cuts before Thursday’s roster deadline.

“Today is a hard day, but I am proud of the work I have put in to get here and know there are better things ahead,” the 23-year-old wrote in a statement posted to social media. “I went overseas, grew as a person and got better. All the feedback I got through camp was positive.”

In her two seasons in Dallas, Collier averaged 2.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. She was drafted No. 1 overall out of Texas and was named to the WNBA All-Rookie team in 2021.

Injuries in other positions kept the 6-5 center off the Wings’ roster, which is “a hard thing to hear,” she said. The Wings announced Thursday that 2023 first-round pick Lou Lopez Sénéchal will be sidelined six to eight weeks following knee surgery and Diamond DeShields will miss significant time with a knee injury.

“To be a No. 1 pick is a privilege and it comes with pressure, but I am thankful for every lesson and will use all the negativity that comes today as fuel to be great,” she continued. “Work is never done and I’m ready for my next opportunity.”

Dallas Wings center Charli Collier underwent a successful knee scope on Wednesday and is expected to return for the 2022 WNBA season.

According to a statement put out by the Wings, the center recently returned from overseas play and will rehab locally in North Texas.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft, Collier was named to the 2021 All-Rookie team after averaging 3.4 points and 3.6 rebounds through 28 games on the season. During college, Collier was a finalist for the Naismith Award, averaging 19 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game while leading Texas to the Elite Eight.

Collier had been playing overseas with Italian team Beretta Famila Schio, averaging seven points and 17 minutes per game.

The Collier, Gray, Ogunbowale combination proved dangerous last night, propelling the Wings to an away win over Los Angeles, 94-71.

Dallas made up for a slower start with a solid offensive performance, shooting 53.1% from the field.

In her WNBA debut, the No. 1 overall draft pick, Charli Collier, dropped a double-double, scoring 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Arike Ogunbowale took care of business on offense as well, netting 17 points for the Wings, 10 of which came in the third quarter alone. Ogunbowale’s push in the third helped advance the Wings to a comfortable 70-60 lead.

Allisha Gray was the night’s top scorer, dropping 23 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists to help secure Dallas the win.

The Dallas Wings will play their first home game against Seattle on Saturday, May 22.

After losing at home, the Sparks will go on the road against Las Vegas on Friday, May 21.

Nike has signed seven WNBA rookies ahead of the league’s 25th season.

Charli Collier, Rennia Davis, Awak Kuier, Aari McDonald, Michaela Onyenwere, DiDi Richards and Iliana Rupert are all now Nike athletes. All seven were selected in April’s WNBA Draft, with Collier, Kuier and McDonald going Nos. 1-3.

Nike’s partnership with the WNBA has spanned from apparel collections to various initiatives for girls and women in sport.

Nike has produced the WNBA uniforms since 2018.

Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe are entering the wide world of NFTs.

Per Sportico, the duo will be joined by other top female athletes, including No. 1 WNBA draft pick Charli Collier and No. 3 pick Aari McDonald, all of whom are represented by Wasserman sports agency.

The series of one-of-a-kind digital trading cards will be designed in collaboration with Los Angeles- based artist Lauren Nipper and released to the public on May 10.

Rapinoe tells Sportico that the project is an opportunity for female athletes to exercise “true ownership” and “authentic creativity.”

Rapinoe and co. are not alone. USWNT teammates Christen Press and Tobin Heath jumped on the NFT game early, releasing their own digitized tokens through re–inc earlier this month.

This latest group of athlete NFTs will be sold as individual digital collectibles, available for purchase online next month.

Other athletes involved in the series include Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, skateboarder Mariah Duran and Paralympian Scout Bassett, with additional female athletes to be announced prior to the May release.

The Dallas Wings selected Texas center Charli Collier with the first pick in the WNBA draft.

A finalist for the Naismith Award, Collier averaged 19 points per game and 11.3 rebounds per game while leading Texas to the Elite Eight.

Collier declared early for the draft and was long projected to be the top overall selection due to her defensive abilities and future potential.

Put Charli Collier in the league already.

At least, that’s what Kevin Durant is thinking.

And it seems as though Collier is feeling the same.

The jersey number might look familiar for Durant, as he wore No. 35 during his lone season with the Texas Longhorns. He also donned it with the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder before switching to No. 7 with the Brooklyn Nets. 

Durant is also the reason Collier wears No. 35.

While the two have being Longhorns in common, they’re also friends. Durant appeared on Collier’s basketball show “Center Court” back in January.

Durant isn’t alone in his sentiment. The 6’5” former Longhorn is the projected No. 1 overall pick in many mock drafts and has been widely regarded as one of the best players in college basketball.

Tune into 2021 WNBA Draft tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN to see if Durant’s projection (and everybody else’s) rings true.