Dec. 20, 2002

By Liz Harper
MU Media Relations Office

Charliss Ridley likes to talk. As she starts to tell a story about her first postgame interview during high school, her face lights up with laughter and her voice with hints of embarrassment. A reporter asked Ridley a question about the game and she proceeded to answer the reporter's question and any others he had even thought about asking.

Ridley's personality, then and now, is very animated-a trait she claims she inherited with her mother.

"I definitely get my outgoing demeanor from my mother, she can talk to anyone. And does," Ridley said.

As a sophomore in high school, Ridley's outgoing personality helped her adjust to a new environment when the family moved from Indianapolis to Wheaton, Ill. Her father, a professor at Indiana University, took a year sabbatical and temporarily relocated the family to Wheaton, where Charliss' older brother, Charles, played basketball for Wheaton College.

At Wheaton-Warrenville High School, Ridley excelled on and off the court.

"I loved school. I loved my new friends and I loved basketball in Wheaton. It really felt like home," Ridley said. "When the year was up, I didn't want to leave."

So she stayed.

"I had a great time (at Wheaton-Warrenville). I enjoyed basketball, classes and my social life so much," Ridley said. "I'm very lucky that my parents made the sacrifice to let me stay where I felt at home."

During her time at Wheaton-Warrenville, many colleges recruited her and encouraged Ridley to continue her basketball career at the next level.

"Coach (Cindy) Stein recruited me out of high school," Ridley said. "But at the time, I felt like God was leading me to Indiana."

Early last summer, after a year at Indiana, Ridley decided to transfer to Missouri.

"One of the main reasons I came to Mizzou is because Coach Stein and the girls are amazing," Ridley said. "During the recruiting process, I didn't hear one negative thing about Missouri's program. Honesty and integrity are placed at such a high value."

The 5-foot-11 forward is also excited about the academic opportunities at MU.

"I am a student-athlete first," Ridley said. "The business school here is wonderful. I'm very excited about the new Cornell Hall. I wouldn't mind working in management for the WNBA, since my heart has always been in business."

For Ridley, the route to Missouri was not typical, but the decision to transfer has made her happy. She is full of compliments and enjoyed her first semester at MU.

"I'm away from my parents, but I feel like I'm part of a family here," Ridley said. "I thank God for the opportunity to play here. MU has such a high regard and respect for the student-athlete. The best thing about MU is that I feel a part of things. I feel so taken care of and loved."