By Joseph Staszewski
Tina Charles is coming home.
The former Christ the King star and Jamaica native was traded from the Connecticut Sun to the New York Liberty in a blockbuster deal during the WNBA Draft April 14.
Charles had been the top pick in the league’s 2010 draft and was the WNBA’s most valuable player in 2012.
She was acquired along with a third-round draft pick in 2015 for forward Kelsey Bone, the Liberty’s 2014 first-round selection Alyssa Thomas and its 2015 first-round pick. Charles, who played four seasons for UConn, had hoped to be traded by the Connecticut Sun, the ___ reported.
Charles said in a conference call she wanted to be closer to home and her family in New York, and preferred to play for a team that could win a WNBA championship. The Liberty will play at Madison Square Garden again this year after the completion of the building’s renovations.
“Just being back at the Garden again reminds me of growing up in New York, going to Knicks and Liberty games and playing there in high school [with Christ the King],” Charles said in a conference call. “The energy in the arena is amazing. The Garden speaks to you, brings the best out of you. It’s breathtaking. It’s emotional. It’s a blessing.”
Her addition to the Liberty roster could be a godsend for a franchise that has not had a winning record since 2011. New York was 11-23 last year under first-year Coach and General Manager Bill Laimbeer. Adding Charles to guards Cappie Pondexter and Essence Carson gives the Liberty a team Laimber believes can be a force in the league this season. Charles averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds with the Sun last season.
“Tina is obviously one of the best players in the league,” Laimbeer said. “Our franchise felt we needed to add All-Star caliber players, especially with our return to Madison Square Garden, to put a competitive team on the court.”
Christ the King Coach Bob Mackey said he was ecstatic to have Charles back in New York. He feels she still has great name recognition from her days as a McDonald’s All-American at the Middle Village high school and winning national championships at UConn. Her addition gives the Liberty an all-star caliber forward to build upon its great backcourt.
“I think you have a pretty nice grouping there,” Mackey said. “I think Tina helps a lot. She’s a force on the boards. She’s a presence inside both offensively and defensively. I think it’s a win. They had to give up a lot, but she is a proven player.”
