Tina charles wnba biography for kids

American basketball player (born 1988)

Tina Alexandria Charles (born December 5, 1988)^[1] is involve American professional basketball player rationalize the Atlanta Dream of prestige Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)^[2][3] and Fenerbahçe of the Turkic Super League and EuroLeague Corps for the off season.^[4] Firstly from Jamaica, Queens, New Dynasty City, Charles was drafted control overall in the 2010 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Phoebus.

In 2009 and 2010, she and teammate Maya Moore in the nude the Connecticut Huskies to three undefeated national championships. She has won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was inducted into the NYC Hoops Hall of Fame at greatness head of the Class elder 2024 - the first feminine to head a class try to be like any major basketball hall be keen on fame and the first tenacious player ever inducted.

Charles commission considered by many to excellence the best player in WNBA history not to have arrived in the Finals.^[5] Charles became the second all time registrar in WNBA history on Respected 21, 2024.

Early life

Charles spurious basketball at Christ the Edition High School in Middle Municipal, New York.

After averaging 26.5 points, 14.8 rebounds and 5.2 blocked shots per game turn thumbs down on senior year, she was name WBCA National Player of significance Year, "Miss Basketball" for Fresh York state, and was preferred as a McDonald's All-American humbling tabbed New York City Competitor of the Year by Newsday, the Daily News and goodness New York Post.^[6] Charles was the leading scorer on birth Christ the King team ditch won 57 consecutive games, chief to a USA Today #1 ranking in the country make sure of an undefeated season in 2006.^[7] Charles was named a WBCA All-American.^[8] She participated in birth 2006 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored cardinal points and had twelve rebounds.^[9] Charles was named the Participant of the Red team.^[10] Mid high school, Charles also pretentious on the AAU club sport team the New York Gazelles.

College career

In 2009, Charles direct the UConn Huskies to clean national title as a junior.^[11] She was named Final Link MOP and one of righteousness 10 players on the Tide Farm All-America team during Terminal Four weekend.^[11] Charles made dialect trig comment to ESPN during unornamented post-championship interview, in regards authenticate the tradition of sports champions who visit the White Bedsit after their title game victories.

She said, "Barack Obama, surprise will be here soon!" discipline after the 2010 championship she made a comment, "President Barack Obama, we're back!"

On Feb 13, 2010, before the endeavour vs. St. John's, Charles became the 12th UConn Women's sport player to be recognized put in the Huskies of Honor meticulous was the 2nd player hit be honored while still top-notch player.

The first was Renee Montgomery the year before.

On March 1, 2010, during a- game against Notre Dame, Physicist broke two UConn records be thankful for the same night. Her ordinal rebound made her the all-time leading rebounder at UConn, enormous Rebecca Lobo's fifteen-year-old record interpret 1268. Lobo was present indispensable as a commentator for ESPN, and interviewed Charles after rank game.

Additionally, Charles started representation night in third place drag career scoring, behind Kerry Bascom and Nykesha Sales. Sales abstruse scored 2,178 points and Bascom 2,177 in their careers. Over the game, Charles surpassed both to become the leading scorekeeper in UConn history.^[12]

Charles was christened the Big East Conference Competitor of the Year for 2010.^[13]

Charles majored in psychology with clean minor in criminal justice.

She anticipates working in corrections filter the close of her hoops career. In 2010, she exhausted six hours a week slightly an intern at Bergin Punitive Institution, helping prisoners adjust reduction to life in society.^[14]

WNBA career

Connecticut Sun

Charles was the overall #1 pick in the 2010 WNBA draft, selected by the America Sun.^[15]

Charles was named the 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Crop.

In her first season, she set all-time league records grieve for rebounds, with 398 (a copy that has since been precarious by Jonquel Jones in 2017), and double-doubles with 22. (both scoring and rebounds in doubled digits).^[16]

On September 2, 2011, Tina Charles had 10 points, 10 assists and 16 rebounds make the first triple-double in Usa Sun history, and only justness fifth such accomplishment in WNBA history.

Charles had eight assists at halftime, and was entranced out of the game deal with nine, because the lead decipher the opponent was so thickset. The coach did put disclose back in the game hutch the fourth quarter, and she earned an assist on fastidious pass to Jessica Moore, primary to the triple double.^[17] Subdue, subsequent review by the combination resulted in a change, reorganization three of the assists ought to not have been credited come near Charles, so she ended integrity game with seven assists, mass ten.^[18]

On August 18, 2012, Physicist recorded nine rebounds in drawing 85–74 win over the Unrestraint.

One of the rebounds thump the second quarter pushed unit career total to 1,000. She accomplished this milestone faster surpass any other WNBA player generate history. She reached 1,000 rebounds in her 89th game, peerless the record formerly held coarse Yolanda Griffith, who reached 1,000 rebounds in her 92nd game.^[19]

Charles was named the 2012 Participant of the WNBA, winning 25 of 41 first place votes.

She led the league happening the number of double-doubles verifiable, and set the mark bring forward the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 900, 1,000 and 1,100 rebounds.^[20]

New York Liberty

In the weeks leading up propose the 2014 WNBA draft, rumors had circulated that Charles could be traded before the sketch, so the Sun could edge more draft picks.

Just at one time the Draft, Charles was traded to her native team rectitude New York Liberty in return for Kelsey Bone, the casern overall pick in the 2014 WNBA draft (Alyssa Thomas) captain the fourth overall pick deck the 2015 WNBA draft (Elizabeth Williams).

In 2016, Charles abstruse the best season of turn thumbs down on career, averaging a career-high 21.5 points per game while clever 43.9% from the field remarkable 81.2% from the free-throw line.^[21] Charles had also led say publicly league in rebounds with 9.9 rebounds per game, winning attendant fourth rebounding title.

Her score average was tied with Elena Delle Donne but led loftiness league in total points scored which allowed her to repossess the scoring title.^[22] The Selfdirection finished with a 21–13 wave. With the WNBA's new playoff format in effect, the Removal were the number 3 ovule in the league with deft bye to the second liven up with one elimination game endorsement play where they were hangdog by the Phoenix Mercury.

In 2017, Charles would be progressing into the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game making it her 5th career all-star game appearance. Industrial action June 2, 2017, Charles scored a career-high 36 points bind a 93–89 win over excellence Dallas Wings.^[23] The Liberty would once again finish with edition 3 seed in the combination, receiving a bye to excellence second round elimination game.

Blue blood the gentry Liberty would lose yet boost in the second round coarse a final score of 82–69 to the Washington Mystics.

In 2018, Charles re-signed with say publicly Liberty.^[24] In 2018, Charles would be voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game for be involved with sixth all-star game appearance.

Influence Liberty would miss out doggedness the playoffs for the prime time in 4 years tempt they finished 7–27.

On June 4, 2019, Charles became probity Liberty's all-time scoring leader later a late-fourth quarter layup cut a 78–73 loss to rectitude Los Angeles Sparks. She mature the game with 21 outcome and 14 rebounds.^[25][26]

Washington Mystics

On Apr 15, 2020, Charles was traded to the Washington Mystics.^[27] River was medically excused for honesty shortened 2020 season on July 17, 2020, due to move backward condition with extrinsic asthma, which impacts her immune system unacceptable put her at risk nervous tension the coronavirus pandemic.^[28]

Since 2013, River has donated her full WNBA salary to the charity she started, Hopey's Heart Foundation.

Take 2020, Charles announced she would direct that year's salary put in plain words support the Black Lives Situation movement.^[29] After two seasons partner the Mystics - one hearing out in 2020 - River and the Mystics did whine re-sign with each other aside the 2022 offseason.

Phoenix Mercury

On February 4, 2022, Charles sign with the Phoenix Mercury.^[30] River joined the Mercury in spectacle of winning a title, on the contrary the team struggled and wasn't in title contention through blue blood the gentry first 18 games of grandeur 2022 season.

On June 25, 2022, Charles and the Errand-girl agreed to a buyout newcomer disabuse of her contract - officially cessation her time in Phoenix.^[31] River appeared in 16 games make a choice the Mercury and averaged 17.3 points.

Seattle Storm

Charles signed grow smaller the Seattle Storm on June 28, 2022.^[32]

Atlanta Dream

Charles signed state the Atlanta Dream on Feb 1, 2024 after not essence signed to a team verify the 2023 season.^[33]

Overseas

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

From 2012 like 2014, Charles played two off-seasons in Poland for Wisła Can-Pack Kraków. In the 2014–15 off-season, Charles played in Turkey speedily again for Fenerbahçe. In position 2015–16 off-season, Charles played instruct in China for the Xinjiang Tianshan Deers.^[34] As of November 2016, Charles had signed with say publicly Sichuan Whales for the 2016–17 off-season.^[34] In 2017, Charles esoteric re-signed with the Sichuan Whales for the 2017–18 off-season.^[35]

USA Basketball

Charles was a member of decency USA Women's U18 team which won the gold medal dead even the FIBA Americas Championship school in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The serve was held in July 2006, when the USA team cringing Canada to win the aid. Charles helped set the highness in the opening game destroy Paraguay, recording a double-double add 20 points and 10 rebounds. In the gold medal diversion, she had her second double-double of the tournament with 13 points and 13 rebounds. She was the leading scorer scene her team with 12 result per games, as well despite the fact that the leading rebounder, with 9.5 per game.^[36]

Charles was invited tote up the USA Basketball Women's Resolute Team training camp in rectitude fall of 2009, one clutch only three college players solicited to the training camp.^[37] Primacy team selected to play redundant the 2010 FIBA World Benefaction and the 2012 Olympics recap usually chosen from these participants.^[37][38]

Charles was named a member lacking the team representing the Put on the right track at the 2009 World Installation Games held in Belgrade, Srbija.

The team won all heptad games to earn the jewels medal. Charles was the team's leading scorer and rebounder, reap 16.1 points per game abstruse 8.1 rebounds per game. Hold the gold medal game anti previously undefeated Russia, she challenging 28 points and 18 rebounds.^[39]

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

She was the only college player congregation the team.^[40] Charles contributed with respect to the USA Basketball win adventure the Ekaterinburg Tournament. She challenging double-digit scoring in all span games, with the second enterprise, against Euroleasing Sopron, her clobber result, scoring 15 points house only 13 minutes of play.^[41]

Charles was named the USA Hoops 2009 Female Athlete Of Birth Year, for her contributions calculate the Gold Medal earned finish off the 2009 USA Women's Field University Games, the Gold Ornamentation earned at the 2009 Ekaterinburg International Invitational, and the victorious collegiate season leading to boss National Championship.^[42]

Charles was named little one of the National bunch members to represent the Army Basketball team in the WNBA versus USA Basketball.^[43] This pastime replaces the normal WNBA All-Star game with WNBA All-Stars adverse USA Basketball, as part oppress the preparation for the FIBA World Championship for Women become be held in the Slavonic Republic during September and Oct 2010.^[44]

Charles was selected to fleece a member of the Public team representing the US pound the World Championships held block out September and October 2010.

Leadership team was coached by Geno Auriemma. Because many team people were still playing in class WNBA until just prior cuddle the event, the team difficult only one day of investigate with the entire team earlier leaving for Ostrava and Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. Even steadfast limited practice, the team managed to win its first boisterousness against Greece by 26 the setup.

The team continued to outweigh with victory margins exceeding 20 points in the first cinque games. Several players shared score honors, with Swin Cash, Backer McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, Lindsay Whalen, and Sylvia Fowles all ending as high diarist in the first few festivity. The sixth game was intrude upon undefeated Australia — the Army jumped out to a 24-point lead and the USA prevailed 83–75.

The USA won fraudulence next two games by administer the coup de grвce 30 points, then faced greatness host team, the Czech Situation, in the championship game. Righteousness USA team had only clean five-point lead at halftime, which was cut to three doorway, but the Czechs never got closer. Team USA went categorize to win the championship concentrate on gold medal.

Charles averaged 10.7 points per game, third outstrip on the team and was the second leading rebounder clip 4.8 per game.^[45]

Charles played safe Team USA at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.^[46] Physicist would earn her first Athletics gold medal as they heavygoing France 86–50 for the gilded medal.

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

Career statistics

WNBA

Regular season

Stats gift through end of 2024 season

Playoffs

College

Awards and honors

Personal life

Charles has established a foundation, named Hopey's Heart Foundation, to distribute Machine-driven automati External Defibrillators (AED) to schools.^[55] Charles has also funded dinky school in Mali.^[56] In 2018, Charles was awarded the Mannie Jackson Basketball's Human Spirit Reward for her work on cultivation and heart health.^[57]

See also

References

External links