The John R. Wooden Award will celebrate its 50th anniversary this season. Leading up to the awards 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 Legends of Coaching Award.
20 years ago, Tina Charles had a year no one could ever forget. 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.
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Charles stood out in the paint at 6’4. She proved why she belonged on the court by demonstrating her ability to control the game, rebound and block shots. She received numerous honors 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 No. 1 national ranking with an undefeated season and won titles like “Miss Basketball” for New York and “New York Player of the Year.”
While still in high school, Charles competed with USA Basketball’s junior teams, gaining international experience before college. As she neared the end of her high school career, she was considered the premier player in her class, making her one of the most sought-after recruits in the country.
From 2006 to 2010, Charles would continue his career at the University of Connecticut 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. His performance as a senior led to him receiving the Wooden Award after leading UConn to an undefeated season and a second consecutive title.
His senior year stats included 18.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. She was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 Final Four and was also considered a key contributor to UConn’s recording a 78-game winning streak.
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After her superstar college career, Charles continued to play at Connecticut as she was drafted No. 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 second-most points in league history.
Charles traveled all over the country and the world. From 2010 to present, she played for the Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, Atlanta Dream, and returned to the Connecticut Sun to play for them in the 2025 season. She has played overseas for elite clubs including Galatasaray (Turkey), Wisła Can-Pack Kraków (Poland), Fenerbahçe (Turkey) and teams in China. Just when you think she’s done it all, she’s also a three-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA (2012, 2016, 2020).
Off the field, she is known for being respected as a quiet leader which allows her to play speaks 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 someone is in need, I want to be that person. I want to be the one to lend a hand,” Charles said in an interview with the WNBA. “If something happened to me tomorrow, I would know that I created a foundation that will endure 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 was the first active player inducted into the New York Basketball Hall of Fame.
