Charles is the WNBA’s Eastern Conference player of the month

NEW YORK, July 17, 2012 – Connecticut’s Tina Charles and Los Angeles’  Candace Parker were named the WNBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month respectively, for games played through July 13, when the league officially began its break for the 2012 Olympic Games.

For Charles, the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month award is her second straight award. In leading the Sun to a 5-1 record in July, Charles paced the conference in rebounds (11.2 rpg), was second in minutes (35.7 mpg), and fourth in scoring (19.0 ppg).  The 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Year and 2011 All-WNBA First Team selection recorded a double-double in four-of-six contests, scoring at least 19 points three times and pulling down at least 13 rebounds an equal number of times.  She also helped Connecticut reach the break with 15-4 record, tied with the Minnesota Lynx for the best overall mark in the league.

In July, Charles has:

• Earned back-to-back WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week awards.
• Scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in an 86-75 win over Tulsa on July 6.
• Recorded her 12th double-double of the season in her final game before the Olympic break as the Sun earned its fifth straight win behind Charles’ 25 points and 13 rebounds at Chicago. She had 12 points and eight boards in the second half, rallying Connecticut from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit for an 80-78 victory.
• Helped the Sun hand Minnesota its first home loss of the season with her 19-point, 15-rebound effort in a 86-80 win over the Lynx on July 7.