UConn in the WNBA: Tina Charles climbing up the all-time WNBA leader boards

Former UConn women’s basketball great and current New York Liberty star Tina Charles had herself quite the week. Despite a disappointing stretch for the Liberty, where they dropped two games on the road, Charles averaged a double-double with 23.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game over the past week. She also added two blocks and 2.7 assists per game.

Charles’ impressive performances moved her up in the ranks in many of the WNBA’s all time leader boards. Since last Friday, she has climbed into fifth in career rebound (3,098), 10th in career points (5,901), sixth in career field goals made (2,392) and 15th in career blocks (340).

To reach 10th in all-time scoring, Charles surpassed Seimone Augustus, who currently plays for the Minnesota Lynx. Given that the Liberty will most likely not end the season with a playoff berth and the Lynx are expected to continue into the post season, it is possible that Charles could fall back to 11th in career points before the end of the 2019 season.

Diana Taurasi medically cleared

On Monday, Diana Taurasi received medical clearance to play. Taurasi, who has been sidelined for most of the season after a back injury, did make one attempt to return to the court earlier this season (in Phoenix’s July 12th loss at Connecticut). The 16 minutes Taurasi played in that game are the only minutes she has played this season.

Prior to returning to the court, Taurasi had to serve a one-game suspension for an altercation that occurred in the Phoenix vs. Dallas game on August 10th. She served that suspension against the Aces on Tuesday and is expected to suit up for the Mercury on Sunday against Chicago.