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WNBA 2022 knockout – Tina Charles finds the right fit for Seattle Storm


LAS VEGAS – Tina Charles did not hesitate. When asked if the WNBA championship feels like a “must have” or a really nice addition to a career already worthy of the Hall of Fame, Hurricane Seattle The center’s response is immediate.

“I thought it would icing on the cake,” she said.

Charles sat in a mostly quiet Michelob Ultra Arena the day before Battle 1 of WNBA Semi-Finals against Las Vegas Aces. Charles turns 34 in December, but she looks old on the field. She was an important part of two undefeated national championship teams at UConn in 2009 and 2010, was a three-time Olympic gold medalist and 2012 WNBA MVP. Only last season, while with Washington Mysticsshe led the WNBA in a score of 23.4 PPG.

Of course she wants to win a WNBA title. But it won’t make or break the way she feels about herself or her career. She said it’s not why did she leave? the Phoenix Mercury in June and then signed with Seattle. And it’s part of her story that she believes the media, including ESPN, got it wrong.

“For me, success lies in making the decision to come here,” Charles said. “It says a lot about me as a woman, even more than me as a player, about what I’m going to fight for, or what I’ve learned, or what I’ve learned. experience. “

Charles went great in Sunday’s series opener, picking up a franchise playoff record 18 rebounds, along with 13 points, as the No. Storm beat top seed Aces 76-73. Her divorce contract with Phoenix, the team she joined as a free agent in February, is two months in the rearview mirror, and she doesn’t really want to hash it out now. Her mind was focused on Storm.

What she will say about leaving Phoenix is ​​not about needing to shoot more or wanting a bigger role in the offense. It is not leaving to chase a championship. Charles didn’t elaborate on what happened in Phoenix, but said her departure was to take care of herself and uphold the standards she thinks players should have.

“It’s a business, and if we don’t stay true to our goals, we’ll be cut,” Charles said. “I think for future generations, I hope I’ve allowed them to know how important it is to be in a good work environment and a good culture. The importance of coaching staff and how it works. they are prepared, as well as responsible for the teammates around you.

“I want to develop in the right environment at this point in my career, being 13 years old. A lot of other players will probably have a period of settling down and see what the outcome of that is. I’m 33. age, I just know what my goals are, and it’s important to know what process you want to go through to get there.”

Charles came to Storm with one specific thing in mind: Fill the role Seattle needed. The storm has Breanna Stewart, Jewell Loyd and Sue Bird as key players from their 2018 and 2020 championship teams. But with another player from those teams, center Mercedes Russell, having missed most of this season with recurrent headaches, recovery has been a problem. And who better than Charles, who has averaged 9.3 rebounds in her career, to help fix that?

“She’s very professional,” said Seattle coach Noelle Quinn. “She came in with the mindset, ‘I’m willing to do whatever you ask,’ and that was a great start. It was an understanding on both sides: She wanted to go in and win. “

Charles played her first game against Storm on June 29, when she had four points and five rebounds in a win over Las Vegas. Starting on July 5, she’s scored double that figure in nine straight games. She finished the regular season with an average of 12.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in 18 games with the Storm.

In the first round sweep against the Mystics that she played for last year, Charles had a total of 21 points and 12 rebounds. Then, in the semi-final opening, her rebound helped set the tone from the start.

“Coming into this game, what I know I can control is just being on the board, watching their trends,” Charles said after Game 1.

In Seattle, Charles is currently teammates with Bird, Stewart and Gabby Williams, all UConn graduates. Bird, Charles and Stewart are all natives of New York State, and they have been Olympic teammates, along with Loyd. All of which helped Charles’ transition to Seattle.

Bird said: “From day 1 when she arrives, Tina will feel comfortable playing our style and finding ways to fit in. “And we’re also comfortable with the type of player that can really dominate in the lows. So over time it gets better. Comfort is everything when you talk about it. a team game.”

Charles said if it looks like an easy, seamless transition, that’s somewhat deceiving. It took a lot of work.

“What I can do here is adapt, and I’m grateful to be able to show that I can adapt,” Charles said. “I’m proud to be a New Yorker, and that’s what we do: We adapt to our surroundings, keep moving, and keep our heads up. Regardless of people’s opinions or what. others are throwing at you. But, yes, as I was making my decision to leave Phoenix, I knew there was a potential landing space – that Seattle could be the right place.”

Stewart said she has benefited from having a big body and another MVP inside.

“We played a lot of American Basketball together, we got used to each other’s games,” said Stewart. “But normally, it’s a week or 10 days or a little bit longer with the Olympics. Now we have Tina with Storm, and are seeing how she comes out on the court, amazing human being. Her personality and competitiveness are very strong, and she’s really trying to help us as a team and is always there for everyone.”

Charles said her game has adapted over the years, another thing she brought to Seattle.

“I always like to challenge myself,” she said. “And most of the time when I’m training, it’s not the latter. I’m doing protective things – just knowing how to help spread the floor and realizing that as you get older, you’re not going to be fast or slow. But I can still be clever and clever in trying to take advantage of the opportunities that I have.

“I’ve always been a confident person and a player. I would never say to myself that I can’t do something. It’s just the training I put in that people don’t see, Take the time to become able to play and compete on the field.”



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