Connecticut's Tina Charles and Los Angeles' Candace Parker Named WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week Presented by Boost Mobile
NEW YORK, September 24, 2012 -- Tina Charles of the Connecticut Sun and Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks were named the WNBAs Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week presented by Boost Mobile, respectively, for games played Sept. 17 through Sep. 23.
This marks the first season that Boost Mobile the WNBAs leaguewide marquee partner has presented the WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week awards.
Charles, helped the Sun to 2-0 and led the Eastern Conference in rebounding (10.5 rpg), and ranked third in both scoring (17.0 ppg) and blocks (1.5 bpg) during the week. She also ranked fifth in field goal percentage (.520, 13-of-25) and tied for ninth in free throw percentage (.889, 8-of-9).
In the Suns win over Indiana on Sept. 19 Charles 100th game she became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,100 rebounds, surpassing the mark of Yolanda Griffith who needed 104 games to reach the milestone. Charles led the Sun past Indiana, 73-67, with 17 points and 12 rebounds, including 10 boards on the defensive end. Four days later, despite sitting out the fourth quarter of a 92-72 defeat of Atlanta, Charles logged 17 points and nine rebounds.
The strong week enabled the University of Connecticut product to finish the season with her third consecutive WNBA rebounding title (10.5 rpg). She also set a new franchise single-season scoring record, averaging 18 points per game.
For Charles, the Player of the Week award presented by Boost Mobile is her fourth of the season and the ninth of her career.
In leading the Sparks to home wins over Phoenix (101-76) and Minnesota (92-76), Parker posted a pair of double-doubles and helped Los Angeles extend its record to 24-10, second best in the Western Conference, third best in the league. For the week, the fifth-year pro led the Western Conference in scoring (24.0 ppg), assists (6.0 apg), and blocks (3.0 bpg), while also ranking second in rebounds (11.0 rpg), third in steals (2.5 spg), and fourth in field goal percentage (.606, 20-of-33).
The University of Tenneesee product opened the week with 26 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and four blocks in the win over Phoenix. She followed that up with 22 points, another 11 boards, five assists, four steals, and two blocks as the Sparks downed Minnesota in the regular season finale for Los Angeles. With that, Parker wrapped up the season as the league-leader in blocks (2.3 bpg), and ranked third in rebounds (9.7 rpg), as well as seventh in scoring (17.4 ppg).
For Parker, the Player of the Week award presented by Boost Mobile is her fifth of the season and the tenth of her career. Parkers five Player of the Week honors this year including four in the first eight weeks of the season were the most in the league. Coupled with the three weekly honors won by teammates Nneka Ogwumike (two) and Kristi Toliver (one), Sparks players totaled a league-best eight Player of the Week presented by Boost Mobile honors.
Other candidates for WNBA Players of the Week presented by Boost Mobile were Atlantas Angel McCoughtry and Indianas Tamika Catchings in the East, and, in the West, Phoenixs Krystal Thomas, Seattles Katie Smith, and Tulsas Ivory Latta.
The WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week presented by Boost Mobile are part of a series of on-court performance awards called the WNBA Performance Awards presented by Boost Mobile. The series, currently in its first season, also includes the WNBA Players of the Month presented by Boost Mobile and four of the WNBA's most prestigious year-end honors: WNBA Most Valuable Player presented by Boost Mobile, WNBA Defensive Player of the Year presented by Boost Mobile, WNBA Sixth Woman presented by Boost Mobile, and WNBA Most Improved Player presented by Boost Mobile.
For more information on this week's Players of the Week presented by Boost Mobile winners, visit www.wnba.com/awards.