The John R. Wooden Award will celebrate it’s 50th anniversary this season. Leading up to the award ceremony on April 10, 2026, The Sporting Tribune in partnership with the Wooden Award and the Los Angeles Athletic Club will highlight past winners of the Wooden Award and the Legends of Coaching Award.
Tina Charles had a year that no one could ever forget 20 years ago. A year that was just the beginning of a remarkable story. At Christ the King Regional High School located in Queens, New York, Charles was part of a program known for producing elite players.
Advertisement
Charles stood out in the paint at 6’4. She proved why she belonged on the court by demonstrating skill at controlling the game, rebounding, and blocking shots. She earned a wide range of accolades in 2006, including Gatorade National Player of the Year, USA Today National Player of the Year, McDonald’s National Player of the Year, and WBCA National Player of the Year. She led her team to a #1 national ranking with an undefeated season, and earned titles like “Miss Basketball” for New York and “NYC Player of the Year”.
While still in high school Charles competed with USA Basketball junior squads, gaining international experience before college. As she approached the end of her high school career she was considered the No. 1 post player in her class, deeming her one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation.
From 2006-2010 Charles would continue her career at the University of Connecticut playing under Hall of Fame Coach Geno Auriemma. Alongside Maya Moore and other UConn legends, Charles became a two-time NCAA champion in 2009 and 2010. Her performance as a senior led to her receiving the Wooden Award after leading UConn to an undefeated season and a second straight title.
Her stats senior year included 18.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. She was the most outstanding player at the 2010 Final Four and was also seen as a key contributor to UConn recording a 78-game winning streak.
Advertisement
Following her superstar collegiate run, Charles would continue playing in Connecticut as she was drafted #1 overall in the WNBA by the Connecticut Sun. In 2010 she was named Rookie of the Year and in 2012 she was named WNBA MVP. To date she has made eight WNBA All-Star appearances and holds the all-time record for career rebounds and the second-most points in league history.
Charles has made her way all around the country and all across the globe. From 2010 to now she has played for the Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, Atlanta Dream, and has returned to the Connecticut Sun to play for them in the 2025 season. She’s played overseas for elite clubs including Galatasaray (Turkey), Wisła Can-Pack Kraków (Poland), Fenerbahçe (Turkey), and teams in China. Right when you think she’s done it all she is also a three-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA (2012, 2016, 2020).
Off the court she is known to be respected as a quiet leader who lets her play speak volumes. She is known for her philanthropy, including her work with Hopey’s Heart Foundation, which donates AEDs (defibrillators) to schools and community centers.
“When somebody is in need I want to be that person to be there. I want to be the one to have a lending hand,” Charles said in an interview for the WNBA. “If something were to happen to me tomorrow, I’ll know that I started a foundation that will live on and impact people’s lives. Basketball is just a way for me to channel and reach others.”
In 2024 she was the first woman to lead a class and be the first active player inducted into the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame.
