Tina Charles (basketball) Parents: Meet Rawiston Charles and Angella Holgate

Tina Alexandria Charles was born on December 5, 1988, and is a former American professional basketball player of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Originally from Jamaica, Queens, New York City, Charles was drafted first overall in the 2010 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun. In 2009 and 2010, she and teammate Maya Moore led the Connecticut Huskies to two undefeated national championships. She has won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA.

On February 13, 2010, before the game vs. St. John’s, Charles became the 12th UConn Women’s basketball player to be recognized in the Huskies of Honor and was the 2nd player to be honored while still a player. The first was Renee Montgomery the year before.

PHOTO CREDIT:
Just Women’s Sports

Charles was named the Big East Conference Player of the Year for 2010

Charles majored in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. She anticipates working in corrections at the close of her basketball career. In 2010, she spent six hours a week as an intern at Bergin Correctional Institution, helping prisoners adjust back to life in society.

Charles was the overall #1 pick in the 2010 WNBA draft, selected by the Connecticut Sun.

Charles was named the 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Year. In her first season, she set all-time league records for rebounds, with 398 (a record that has since been broken by Jonquel Jones in 2017), and double-doubles with 22. (both scoring and rebounds in double digits).

Charles was named the 2012 MVP of the WNBA, winning 25 of 41 first-place votes. She led the league in the number of double-doubles recorded and set the mark for the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 900, 1,000, and 1,100 rebounds

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NEWS BASKET BEAFRIKA

The Liberty would once again finish with the number 3 seed in the league, receiving a bye to the second-round elimination game. The Liberty would lose yet again in the second round by a final score of 82–69 to the Washington Mystics.

In 2018, Charles re-signed with the Liberty. In 2018, Charles would be voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game for her sixth all-star game appearance. The Liberty would miss out on the playoffs for the first time in 4 years as they finished 7–27.

On June 4, 2019, Charles became the Liberty’s all-time scoring leader after a late-fourth-quarter layup in a 78–73 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. She finished the game with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

On April 15, 2020, Charles was traded to the Washington Mystics. Charles was medically excused for the shortened 2020 season on July 17, 2020, due to her condition with extrinsic asthma, which impacts her immune system and put her at risk in the coronavirus pandemic.

Since 2013, Charles has donated her full WNBA salary to the charity she started, Hopey’s Heart Foundation. In 2020, Charles announced she would direct that year’s salary to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

After two seasons with the Mystics – one sitting out in 2020 – Charles and the Mystics did not re-sign with each other during the 2022 offseason.

PHOTO CREDIT:
Bleacher Report

On February 4, 2022, Charles signed with the Phoenix Mercury.

Charles signed with the Seattle Storm on June 28, 2022.

In the 2011–12 off-season, Charles played in Turkey for Galatasaray.

Charles was a member of the USA Women’s U18 team which won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Charles was named a member of the team representing the US at the 2009 World University Games held in Belgrade, Serbia. The team won all seven games to earn the gold medal.

On October 5, 2009, Charles was selected to be one of the USA National Team members to travel to the 2009 Ekaterinburg International Invitational.

Charles was named the USA Basketball 2009 Female Athlete Of The Year, for her contributions to the Gold Medal earned at the 2009

PHOTO CREDIT:
Sports Illustrated

Charles was named was as part of the preparation for the FIBA World Championship for Women to be held in the Czech Republic during September and October 2010.

Charles was selected to be a member of the National team representing the US at the World Championships held in September and October 2010. The team was coached by Geno Auriemma.

Charles played for Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Charles would earn her first Olympic gold medal as they beat France 86–50 for the gold medal.

Charles played for Team USA during the 2016 Summer Olympics, helping them win their sixth gold medal as they defeated Spain 101–72. Charles would earn her second Olympic gold medal.