PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State University women's basketball added a pair of talented international players to its 2020 recruiting class on Thursday (April 23), as head coach Kamie Ethridge announced the additions of Charlisse Leger-Walker out of New Zealand and Ekin Celikdemir from Turkey.

"I am extremely excited to announce the signing of Charlisse Leger-Walker and Ekin Celikdemir to WSU's 2020 women's basketball recruiting class," expressed Ethridge. "Charlisse and Ekin fit the Washington State profile of being high-character, hard-working and passionate young people, who have excelled as student-athletes. Charlisse and Ekin are versatile guards who can each play all three guard positions. They are skilled, physically strong, and high IQ players who possess the ability to enter us in offense,  attack the rim and stretch the defense from deep 3-point range."

Charlisse Leger-Walker comes to Pullman as the top-rated player in her class in New Zealand, and brings in arguably one of the most impressive resumes amongst players in her age group throughout the world. Leger-Walker is the youngest player to ever lace up for the New Zealand women's national basketball team, having joined the Tall Ferns at just 16 years old. In 2018, she helped her homeland win bronze at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

More recently, Leger-Walker, who's older sister Krystal is a redshirt senior guard for Washington State, played for New Zealand at the 2019 Women's Olympic Pre-Qualifying Asia-Oceania Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. The guard scored eight points and dished out seven assists in a win over the Philippines and helped the Tall Ferns post a 2-1 record in the tournament. In June of 2019, Leger-Walker was named to the World All-Star 3 team after leading New Zealand to a silver-medal finish at the U18 3x3 World Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It marked the first time any female team from New Zealand has won a medal at a FIBA-sanctioned World tournament.

"I am not sure there is a player I have recruited longer than Charlisse Leger-Walker," stated coach Ethridge. "We began recruiting Krystal, her older sister, over four years ago and it was evident then, Charlisse would become an elite prospect that would have an immediate impact at any program."

The younger Leger-Walker led her high school, St. Peter's School Cambridge, to four New Zealand National High School Championships, where she earned MVP honors four times. In April of 2019, she guided St. Peter's to a fifth-place finish at the International School Sport Federation (ISF) World Championships in Greece, a tournament that features the best prep schools throughout the world. Leger-Walker's play at the 2019 ISF World Championships earned her a spot on the World All-Star Five.

"Charlisse brings a championship mindset and a whole-package resume to our program," said Ethridge of her new guard. "Her basketball skills are high-level, but even more-so, I believe her mental and emotional maturity and toughness will allow her to have a relatively seamless transition to the college game. She is a person and player who demands the most out of herself, and also has the ability to bring the best out of her teammates."

Leger-Walker comes from a tremendous basketball pedigree, as both her mother, Leanne Walker, and sister, Krystal, each played for New Zealand's women's national basketball team at the senior level. Her mother is one of the most renowned women's basketball players to have played for New Zealand, having been a member of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams for the Tall Ferns. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, she guided her home country to its best-ever finish at an Olympic event, by placing eighth. After her playing days ended, Leanne Walker transitioned into a successful coaching career, where she has been a member of the New Zealand national women's teams coaching staff, and has been twice been named the New Zealand Coach of the Year while coaching her daughter's at St. Peter's School Cambridge.

Ekin Celikdemir is a 5-10 combo guard from Istanbul, Turkey, where she was a member of the Fenerbahce basketball club. Celikdemir moved to the United States for her senior season, where she played at the prestigious Tilton School under head coach Tara Brisson in Tilton, New Hampshire.

During her senior season, the guard guided Tilton to a New England Preparatory School Championship and earned Class A All-New England Preparatory Athletic Council first team honors, as the all-around guard averaged 8.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals.

"In complete contrast to Charlisse's long term recruiting process, Ekin Celikdemir appeared on our radar late in her senior season. Ekin was an 'under-the-radar' prospect who we were thrilled to learn about this spring," said Ethridge. "She comes from competitive and winning cultures. In addition to winning a championship in high school, her desire to excel as a student-athlete, to be a great teammate, and to help elevate our program make her a perfect fit for our culture and future.

Before moving to the United States, Celikdemir enjoyed a successful stint with Fenerbahçe, a premier basketball club in Istanbul. Her U-16 Fenerbahçe team captured first place at the 2017 Turkey Women's Basketball Champions Tournament after placing second in 2016. Celikdemir's U-18 Fenerbahçe squad also posted a second-place finish during the 2018-19 season in the Turkey Women's Basketball Second League.

"Ekin is accustomed to playing against older, professional players and has a strong, competitive drive and toughness," Ethridge added. "She is a high IQ player, gifted passer and tremendous leader."

With the additions of Leger-Walker and Celikdemir, the Washington State 2019-2020 recruiting class grows to three. The two spring signees join 6-3 Canadian post player Jessica Clarke, who signed with the Cougs in November.

"This signing class is made of high character, high achieving, and team-first people and players," said Ethridge of her signees. "They are committed to becoming their very best academically and competitively. Coug Nation can expect to see this class, along with our newcomer, Krystal Leger-Walker, make an immediate impact at WSU next season and for years to come in the Pac-12."