Tina Charles and Sylvia Fowles Named WNBA Players of the Week


— Charles surpasses Tamika Catchings with 23rd career honor; Fowles wins for third time in four weeks —

NEW YORK, June 12, 2017 Tina Charles of the New York Liberty and Sylvia Fowles of the Minnesota Lynx today were named the WNBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played June 5-11.

Charles earned Player of the Week honors for the 23rd time in her eight WNBA seasons, surpassing Tamika Catchings for the most such awards in a career.  In leading the Liberty to a 2-0 week, Charles paced the Eastern Conference in rebounding (14.5 rpg), ranked third in scoring (19.5 ppg) and tied for ninth in assists (2.5 apg).

The 6-4 center recorded consecutive double-doubles that included her top two rebounding efforts of the season.  Charles opened her week with 18 points and a season-high 15 rebounds as New York defeated the visiting Atlanta Dream 76-61 on June 7.  The former University of Connecticut standout then notched 21 points, 14 rebounds and three assists as New York extended its winning streak to four games with a 94-86 home victory over the Seattle Storm on June 11.

Fowles earned Player of the Week honors for the third time in four weeks and for the 10th time in her 10-year career.  Behind the 6-6 center, Minnesota went 2-0 for the week and improved to a league-best 9-0 overall.  Fowles ranked second in the West in scoring (25.5 ppg), tied teammate Rebekkah Brunson for the conference lead in rebounding (10.0 rpg) and paced all West players in field goal percentage (.706, 24-of-34).  She also tied for 11th in the West in assists (3.5 apg).

On June 9, the former LSU star posted game highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds and contributed five assists and two steals as Minnesota defeated the host Washington Mystics 98-73.  Two days later, she scored a season-high 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 91-74 road win over the Dallas Wings.

Other candidates for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were the Connecticut Sun’s Jonquel Jones, Dallas’ Glory Johnson, the Los Angeles Sparks’ Alana Beard and Nneka Ogwumike, the Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner and Washington’s Elena Delle Donne.

For more information on the WNBA Players of the Week, visit www.wnba.com/awards.

2017 WNBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

  • 5/21/17: Layshia Clarendon (Atlanta) Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota)
  • 5/28/17: Epiphanny Prince (New York) and Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota)
  • 6/4/17: Tina Charles (New York) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix)
  • 6/11/16: Tina Charles (New York) and Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota)

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