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Just two days before the 2020 WNBA Draft, the Washington Mystics made big moves to acquire 2012 league MVP Tina Charles from the New York Liberty in exchange for guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. The Mystics also sent four draft picks to the Liberty including their 2020 first round pick and 2021 first, second and third round picks. This is a strong signal that the Mystics are willing to do what it takes to defend their WNBA Championship title.
“We are extremely excited to bring Tina Charles to the Washington Mystics. It gives us a dynamic new weapon at both ends of the floor,” said Mystics General Manager and Head Coach Mike Thibault. “Having coached Tina before in Connecticut, I know what a huge impact she can have on the game every single night. Her ability to score inside and out will make our offense even more dangerous than in the past.”
“Her willingness to share the ball will make it tough for opponents to double team her or Elena (Delle Donne) or Emma (Meesseman) or any of our other scorers, Thibault continued. “She is one of the best rebounders in the history of the league and that is an area that we have been looking to improve going into the upcoming season. I also think her competitive fire will be appreciated by her new teammates and she will in turn thrive in our environment. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to coach Tina again.”
Charles, a 6-4 center, averaged 16.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 33 games with the Liberty last season, marking the sixth consecutive season she has appeared in 30 or more games. The former MVP brings a distinguished list of career accomplishments to the reigning champion Mystics, including being named a unanimous choice for WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2010, seven WNBA All-Star appearances (2011, 2013-2015, 2017-2019), five times being named First Team All-WNBA (2011-2012, 2015-2017) and First Team WNBA All-Defensive honors following the 2017 season. She has also won two Olympic Gold Medals with the USA Basketball Women’s National Team (2012, 2016).
The Jamaica, NY, native was originally drafted with the first overall pick out of the University of Connecticut by the Connecticut Sun in the 2010 NBA Draft. She has appeared in 330 games (all starts) for the Sun (2010-2013) and New York Liberty (2014-2019), holding career averages of 18.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game over 10 seasons. Charles’ 9.5 rebounds per game rank third all-time in WNBA history, trailing only Sylvia Fowles (9.8) and Cheryl Ford (9.7) and she ranks 10th overall in points per game in WNBA history. She became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 400, 500, 600 and 700 career rebounds and set the WNBA record for the first player to post three 20 point-20 rebound games.
“I also want to thank Shatori Walker-Kimbrough for all the contributions she has made to the Mystics the past three seasons,” added Thibault. “It’s always tough to have to trade a player, especially with the close-knit group that we have. Shatori was an important part of our success the last few years. We wish her well in New York.”
Walker-Kimbrough appeared in 80 games (10 starts) over the last three years for the Mystics, holding career averages of 5.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per game while shooting .413 from the field. She was originally drafted by the Mystics with the sixth overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft.
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