Connecticut Sun’s centre Tina Charles named ‘WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month’ – Part 1
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has named Connecticut Sun’s centre Tina Charles Wade as the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for June.
Charles has been sensation ever since she arrived in the league last year. In her very first season, she averaged more than 15 points and 11 rebounds and won the league’s Rookie of the Year honours. She had 528 points, 398 rebounds
and 57 blocks during 2010.
In this season, Charles has raised her game to brand new level and has been the main reason why Connecticut finished with a second best 5-3 record in the East during the month of June.
The 22-year-old centre won the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week honours two times in the past month and ranked second in the league with 19.8 points per game. In addition to that, she topped all players of her conference
with 11 rebounds per game, ranked fourth with 1.50 blocks per game and sixth in field goal percentage, shooting 68 for 129.
Only in her second professional year, Tina is fast becoming a consistent double-double threat. She is a dominant force in the paint and Sun’s chances of a playoffs return this year are dependent on her performance. During June,
she participated in all eight games that Connecticut played and totalled 158 points, 88 rebounds and 12 blocks.
Here is an overview of Charles’ performance in the month under the scanner:
Game-high 18 points in the season opener
Charles posted a game-high 18 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds as her team soared to an 89-73 win over the Washington Mystics at Mohegan Sun Arena in the season opener. She scored 11 of her points in the first half and
walked away with a 7 for 14 shooting from the field and 4 for 5 from free throw line.
The eight point setback
Charles is the best offensive weapon, the Sun have. Their chances in a game depend on her ability to drive, create, finish, or get to the line. If she delivers, they deliver. If she does not, Connecticut struggles. The June 10
game against Chicago Sky is a clear testament to that. In that game, Charles was limited to eight points and four rebounds by Sky and Connecticut lost by 78-75.
Team-high 19 points vs. Tulsa Shock
At Mohegan Sun Arena, Charles tallied a team-high 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds as Connecticut got back on track with an impressive 90-79 victory over Tulsa Shock in their third game of the season. The player scored
15 of her points in the first half, helping her team lead by as many as 12 points at the break. She finished with a 8 for 14 performance from the floor.
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