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Tina Charles

Tina Charles – WNBA News, Rumors & Updates, Stats

Who is Tina Charles?

Tina Charles is an American professional basketball player and one of the most dominant forwards/centers in WNBA history. Known for her scoring, rebounding, and versatility, Charles has been one of the league’s premier bigs since entering in 2010. She is a WNBA MVP (2012), 8-time All-Star, and a former scoring champion (2021). Charles is also a four-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA and has played for multiple WNBA franchises, leaving her mark everywhere she goes.

Quick Facts: Tina Charles

Detail Information
Full Name Tina Alexandria Charles
Born December 5, 1988 (Age: 35)
Hometown Queens, New York
Nationality American
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position Forward / Center
High School Christ the King High School (Queens, NY)
College University of Connecticut (2006–2010)
WNBA Draft 2010 – 1st Round, 1st Overall (Connecticut Sun)
WNBA Teams Connecticut Sun (2010–2013), New York Liberty (2014–2019), Washington Mystics (2021), Phoenix Mercury (2022), Seattle Storm (2022)
Major Honors WNBA MVP (2012), 8× All-Star, Rookie of the Year (2010), 2× NCAA Champion (2009, 2010), 4× Olympic Gold Medalist
Current Status Free Agent (last played in 2022)
Social Media @tinacharles31 (Instagram)

Early Life

Tina Alexandria Charles was born on December 5, 1988, in Queens, New York. She grew up in Jamaica, Queens, and began playing basketball at a young age. She attended Christ the King High School in Middle Village, New York, where she was a standout player and one of the top recruits in the nation.

College Career

Charles went on to play at the University of Connecticut (2006–2010) under Geno Auriemma. She was a central figure in UConn’s dominance, helping lead the Huskies to two NCAA National Championships (2009, 2010). In her senior year, she was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player and the 2009–10 Naismith College Player of the Year. Charles graduated as UConn’s all-time leader in points and rebounds at the time.

WNBA Career

  • Draft & Rookie Season (2010): Tina Charles was selected 1st overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun. She made an immediate impact, winning Rookie of the Year and setting the record for most rebounds in a season by a rookie.

  • Connecticut Sun (2010–2013): Charles became the face of the franchise, winning WNBA MVP in 2012 after averaging 18 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

  • New York Liberty (2014–2019): In her hometown, Charles continued her dominance, leading the league in scoring in 2016 and becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer.

  • Washington Mystics & Beyond: Charles played for the Washington Mystics in 2021, where she led the league in scoring with 23.4 points per game. She later joined the Phoenix Mercury in 2022 and finished the season with the Seattle Storm.

  • Current Status: Charles most recently played with the Seattle Storm in 2022, and while she has not officially retired, she remains one of the league’s most accomplished players.

International Career

Charles has enjoyed a successful overseas career in countries like Turkey, Russia, and China. She is also a decorated member of Team USA, winning four Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016, 2020, 2021 Tokyo Games) and multiple FIBA World Cup titles.