The New York Liberty may be the defending WNBA champions, but on Friday, they lost their preseason opener to the Connecticut Sun.
Although the Liberty shot a blazing 56.9% from the field and 47.8% from 3-point range, they committed 18 turnovers and were outrebounded by nine.
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Tina Charles, a veteran center the Sun signed in free agency this offseason, scored 17 points and added six rebounds, three assists and two steals. The WNBA gave Charles her flowers by highlighting her performance in a post on its official X account following Connecticut’s win.
“Tina Charles was a presence in the paint to lead the Sun to the preseason win over the Liberty!” the caption read.
Charles, 36, started her career with the Sun after they took her with the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft. She spent her first four seasons with them and was named the league MVP in 2012 with averages of 18.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.
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She was traded to the Liberty in 2014, where she continued to make her name as a prominent star. In all, she was named to the WNBA All-Star Game eight times, and she has won two scoring titles while being named to four All-Defensive teams.
Phoenix Mercury center Tina Charles talks to the press at Verizon 5G Performance Center.Cheryl Evans/The Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK
The Sun lost in the semifinals last year in five games to the Minnesota Lynx. But they’re hoping the addition of Charles will help put them over the top this year.
Last season, as a member of the Atlanta Dream, she put up 14.9 points and 9.6 rebounds a contest while shooting 45.6% from the field, so she should have plenty left in the tank.
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