Karisma Penn

Personal: Currently works as a production associate for JLL Capital Markets in Miami, Fla. … one of five children in her family … majored in Communications at Illinois … lists coach Melvin Burke as a person who has made a difference in her life … enjoys making candles, spending time with friends, home renovations, going to the beach and boating … also played volleyball as a child.

Other Professional Experience: Invited to New York Liberty Training Camp prior to 2013 season … competed for Umbertide (Italy) and Cavigal Nice (France) in 2013 before spending three seasons with Rishon LeZion in Israel … also played for Ashdod (2016), Ranaana (2016-18) and Ramat Gan (2018) in Israel before joining Samsung in South Korea from 2018-19 … returned to Israel to play for Holon (2019-20), Ashdod (2021) and Herzilya (2021-22).

College Experience: Four-year letter winner at Illinois who started 128-of-129 games from 2009-13 … Honorable Mention All-America selection by the Associated Press during 2012-13 campaign … earned All-Big Ten Conference distinction in each of her final three seasons, including First-Team All-Big Ten notice as a senior … member of 2011-12 Big Ten All-Defensive Team … selected to 2019-10 Big Ten All-Freshman Team after claiming four Freshman of the Week commendations … six-time Big Ten Player of the Week honoree … averaged 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game during her career … ranks fourth in school history with 1,965 career points … shot 48.1 percent from the field during her career, including 30.1 percent from three-point range … second-leading rebounder in program history with 1,043 caroms … also stands second on Fighting Illini’s career annals with 271 blocks …  owns Illinois career record with 747 free throw attempts … ranks fourth on Illinois’ career ledger with 242 steals, including 96 thefts as a senior … also holds share of single-season record with 125 offensive rebounds during 2012-13 campaign … established school single-season marks with 179 made free throws and 262 free throw attempts as a senior … set school record with 78 blocked shots as a sophomore … made school-record 16 free throws at Ohio State on Jan. 6, 2013 … led Fighting Illini in scoring during each of her final three seasons … registered 42 career double-doubles, the second-highest total in Illinois history.