Tina Charles crowned as the Eastern Conference Player of the Week – WNBA Update
The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has bestowed Connecticut Sun’s centre Tina Charles with the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award for games played from August 29 through September 4.
The former UConn star led Connecticut to a 2-1 week, putting up averages of 16.6 points, a conference-high 12.7 rebounds to go along with a league best 2.67 blocks per game. It is the fifth time in Charles’ one-year career and fourth in this season that she has earned the award.
The 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Year is one among the top WNBA MVP contenders and is averaging 17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game this season. Charles is a big reason why the Sun have qualified for the playoffs this time around, after missing out in previous two years.
Charles’ teammate Kara Lawson said, “When you are as talented as she is, you get to a point very early in your career where you have seen anything and everything that a team can do to curtail your statistics,'' “ She is not frazzled. ... She does not get surprised. When a double-team comes, the timing of it or anything else, she is more composed when she sees it and she passes great out of it.''
Here is a look at Charles week:
August 30 vs. San Antonio Silver Stars
At AT&T Center, Charles scored 16 points in Connecticut’s 78-66 defeat to San Antonio Silver Stars. The player grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists and blocked three crucial shots of the Silver Stars. Charles tallied 10 of her points in the second half and ended the game on a 5 for 17 shooting from the field and 6 for 9 from free throw line.
September 2 vs. Indiana Fever
The 22-year-old centre recorded a double-double in an 83-55 victory over the Indiana Fever on Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena. She pulled down a game best 16 rebounds and netted 10 points in more than 28 minutes. Charles also dealt out seven assists, blocked three shots and had two steals in the victory.
September 4 vs. Washington Mystics
Charles’ most impressive effort was put in this past Sunday night in an impressive 79-48 victory over the Washington Mystics road victory over the slumping Washington Mystics at Verizon Center. The 6 ft 4 in centre player registered her 1 double-doubles this season with a game-high 24 points and 15 rebounds. She went 10 for 14 from the floor and 4 for 4 from the line.
The coach of the opposite team Trudi Lacey praised the outstanding performance of Charles and said, “Tina Charles is certainly a forced to be reckoned with,”
Other Nominees
Other candidates for the weekly honours were Atlanta Dream’s Angel McCoughtry, Chicago Sky’s Sylvia Fowles, Los Angeles Sparks’ Candace Parker, New York Liberty’s Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi and Candice Dupree, Seattle Storm’s Swin Cash and Tulsa Shocks Tiffany Jackson.
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