— 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)
