The Connecticut Sun's Tina Charles Named WNBA Rookie of the Year
August 31, 2010 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2010 - Connecticut Sun forward Tina Charles earned the 2010 Rookie of the Year award, the WNBA announced today. A national panel of 39 sportswriters and broadcasters unanimously awarded Charles the honor.
Charles, the No.1 overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft presented by adidas, topped all rookies in points (15.5 ppg) and rebounds (11.7 rpg) - leading the league in the latter category - and ranked second in the league in blocks (1.68 bpg). In the process, she set a pair of WNBA single-season records: Charles' 398 total rebounds surpassed the mark of 363 set by Detroit's Cheryl Ford in 2006, while her 22 double-doubles bettered the mark of 19 set by Utah's Natalie Williams in 2000.
A product of the University of Connecticut and Christ the King High School in Queens, NY, Charles finished the season winning all four WNBA Rookie of the Month honors.
The 6-4 center posted her first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a season- opening 74-61 win over the Chicago Sky on May 15. One of her best games came on July 7 in a 108-103 loss to the Atlanta Dream, when Charles posted a career-high 27 points, collected 20 rebounds, and contributed four blocks. In another notable performance on June 25, Charles posted a career-high and rookie-record 23 rebounds (tied for second most in league history) and added 19 points and two steals in a win over the Phoenix Mercury. She recorded 10 or more rebounds 23 times and scored in double-digits in all but four games this season as the Sun finished the season 17-17, a one-game improvement from last year's 16-18 record.
In addition to setting significant WNBA records for a single season, Charles finished her rookie season by etching her name into the record books in numerous other areas as well. She established new single-season franchise marks for offensive (129) and defensive (269) rebounds; established the second-highest defensive rebound total in league history, behind Lisa Leslie's 276 in 2004; and collected six straight double-doubles, one short of Lauren Jackson's WNBA record of seven.
Charles averaged a double-double in every month but May (16.6 ppg and 9.6 rpg). In June, she averaged 15.5 points and 14.0 rebounds. Charles finished her rookie season averaging 16.2 points and 11.5 rebounds in August.
Charles, the all-time leading scorer and rebounder at the University of Connecticut, excelled on the court throughout her college career. As a senior, she earned All-America honors while leading the Huskies to their second consecutive NCAA championship and a record 78 straight wins. She was also the Big East Player of the Year as a senior and a three-time All-Big East First Team member.
In honor of being named the 2010 Rookie of the Year, Charles will receive $5,000 and a specially designed trophy by Tiffany & Co.
Below are the complete results of the 2010 Rookie of the Year voting, followed by a list of previous winners:
2010 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RESULTS
39 Tina Charles Connecticut Sun
A national panel of 39 sportswriters and broadcasters unanimously awarded Charles the honor.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2010 Tina Charles Connecticut Sun
2009 Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream
2008 Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks
2007 Armintie Price Chicago Sky
2006 Seimone Augustus Minnesota Lynx
2005 Temeka Johnson Washington Mystics
2004 Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury
2003 Cheryl Ford Detroit Shock
2002 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever
2001 Jackie Stiles Portland Fire
2000 Betty Lennox Minnesota Lynx
1999 Chamique Holdsclaw Washington Mystics
1998 Tracy Reid Charlotte Sting
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 31, 2010
- Lynx Guard-Forward Monica Wright Named to WNBA All-Rookie Team - Minnesota Lynx
- The Connecticut Sun's Tina Charles Named WNBA Rookie of the Year - WNBA
- Epiphanny Prince Named to the 2010 WNBA All-Rookie Team - Chicago Sky
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