Through her first three games with the Liberty, Tina Charles has lived up to the hype. Eventually, that figures to lead to more victories.
The Queens native, acquired via a draft-day trade last month, is averaging 16 points and 11.7 rebounds as one of the few consistent double-double threats in the WNBA. However, the team has dropped two in a row after winning the season opener in hostile territory against Charles’ former team, the Sun.
At least their latest loss, an 87-82 loss on the road against the unbeaten Lynx, offered signs of hope. Although the Liberty’s offense ranks in the bottom half of the league, Charles led the team’s four double-digit scorers with 24 points — plus a game-high 14 rebounds.
The center also flexed her ability to take over a game when, with the Liberty down 33-23 midway through the second quarter, she scored the game’s next eight points to pull her team back within two of Minnesota.
With a matchup tonight at the Garden against the struggling Storm — who rank last in scoring and rebounding — Charles could once again be in for a big night.
This time, it might lead to a victory, too.