NFL
By: Nick Andre
The Atlanta Dream’s regular season is right around the corner. As their season opener against the Los Angeles Sparks is underway, they have a few weeks to prepare with Training Camp and Preseason to create a feel for the team. What most fans are excited about with the Dream are the newcomers acquired during the off-season. One of the new acquisitions includes veteran sensation Tina Charles who is entering her 13th WNBA season.
Last season, the Dream made the postseason for the first time in five seasons. As they were swept by the Dallas Wings in the first round, the goal was to get better through the off-season. One of the goals for the Dream Front Office was to acquire a key veteran who could provide wisdom and leadership. That was a job that was specially designed for Tina Charles.
This is the same Tina Charles who took the WNBA by storm when she first stepped foot into the league. After displaying a monstrous college career at UConn, Charles became an All-Star by her second season while winning an MVP Award by year three. If there was one word to describe her career, it’s longevity. Whether she played for the Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty, or Washington Mystics, Charles has always displayed high-level play throughout her career.
Tina Charles is a high-IQ basketball player. She is a gifted talent who continues to thrive as a three-level scorer and is also a great rim protector. Charles’ physicality makes it difficult for defenders to contain her and she always has her way inside the paint. Not to mention, Charles is also a great passer who finds her teammates cutting backdoor. Her versatility on offense opens up opportunities for both herself and her teammates.
The last we saw of Tina Charles was with the Seattle Storm in 2022. Sure, she was 33 years of age. However, she showed she was still a valuable role player in the second unit. Charles played a key role in helping the Storm reach the Semifinals before falling to the Las Vegas Aces in four games.
Two seasons later, Charles is back in the WNBA and is competing with a young team on the rise. “Tina comes with a wealth of experience” Dream head coach Tanisha Wright stated. Coach Wright already has a history with Charles as the two played together for two seasons with the Liberty. With that being said, she understands that Charles is a seasoned player who has been through many battles in her WNBA career. That experience added to this team could be crucial in moments of the season.
The beauty of Charles at this stage of her career is she can be a huge asset in the Dream’s second unit. The combination of her, Aerial Powers, and others can take pressure off the starters and keep momentum going. Plus, Coach Wright can also plug Charles in lineups next to star players Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada, and others.
As Tina Charles begins her 13th season, she’s looking to remind the world that she can still compete at the highest level. She may not be the same MVP that she was in her earlier career but can still contribute to a playoff team. It will be interesting to watch how Charles guides her younger teammates and helps mold them into better players.
