New York Liberty forward Tina Charles will represent the squad at its annual All-Star Game, set to be held July 28 in Minneapolis.
New York has its share of summer traditions, like concerts at Jones Beach and Italian ices. Tina Charles representing the New York Liberty at the WNBA All-Star Game is set to be a new staple.
Charles was named to her sixth exhibition on Tuesday, her fourth selection as a member of the New York Liberty. In her fifth New York season, Charles now ties Teresa Weatherspoon, Tari Phillips, and Cappie Pondexter for the most All-Star selections in a Liberty uniform, breaking a second-place tie with Becky Hammon.
Despite a tough season for the Liberty, who are currently outside of the WNBA playoff picture at 7-15, Charles has maintained her elite form. She leads the team in points per game (19.7) and rebounds per game (6.9), these averages being good for respective ranks of seventh and twelfth in the league. Charles has also worked her way up the WNBA’s all-time scoring list, with her 5,224 career points ranking 16th in league history, entering Saturday’s games. In the Liberty’s game on Thursday in Atlanta, Charles passed Pondexter for second all-time in Liberty points, currently standing at 2,981.
Under the WNBA’s new All-Star format, Charles was one of just six Eastern Conference players selected, joining Elena Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver of Washington, Chiney Ogwumike of Connecticut (where Charles spent her first four WNBA seasons), Angel McCoughtry of Atlanta, and Allie Quigley of Chicago. Emulating a format previously adopted by the NBA, the 2018 All-Star Game, which will be hosted by the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center in Minneapolis, features two teams captained by the two leading vote-getters, with fans accumulating most of the tally. Delle Donne will captain one squad, while Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks serving as her challenger.
Charles was chosen by Team Parker, who will be coached by Sandy Brondello of Phoenix. Dan Hughes of Seattle got the nod for Team Delle Donne. First time All-Stars include rookie A’ja Wilson of Las Vegas and Jewell Loyd from Seattle.
The 2018 WNBA All-Star Game will go down on July 28 (3:30 PM EST, ABC). Charles and the Liberty can next be seen in action on Saturday afternoon against the Washington Mystics (3 PM EST, MSG+).
