Grizzlies’ Vince Carter wins 2015-16 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award
NEW YORK – Tina Charles of the New York Liberty and Maya Moore of the Minnesota Lynx were named the WNBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played May 30 through June 5.
Charles earned the Adam Silver’s statement regarding the passing of Muhammad Ali Player of the Week honor for the second time this season and the 16th time in her seven-year career. The 2012 WNBA Most Valuable Player and four-time All-Star helped New York win two of its three games during the week, as the Liberty improved to 4-3 on the season. Through seven games Charles is leading the WNBA in scoring (21.4 ppg) and rebounding (11.6 rpg).
The former University of Connecticut standout ranked second for the week among Eastern Conference players in scoring (18.7 ppg), shared the lead in rebounding (11 rpg, along with the Atlanta Dream’s Sancho Lyttle) and was eighth in assists (3.3 apg).
Charles tipped off her week with 23 points and 11 rebounds in a 79-69 loss to the undefeated Lynx on May 31. Two days later she logged a 14-point, nine-rebound, six-assist effort in New York’s 91-59 home win over the Indiana Fever. Charles capped her week with 19 points, 13 boards and three assists in an 86-78 road win over the Seattle Storm on June 5.
Moore, who played with Charles at the University of Connecticut, was also honored as Player of the Week for the second time this season and 16th time in her six-year career.
Moore, the 2013 WNBA Finals MVP and 2014 regular-season MVP, ranks behind only Charles among WNBA scorers this season (21 ppg) and is third in the league in assists (5.4 apg), while helping Minnesota to a 7-0 start.
During the week, Moore ranked second among Western Conference players in scoring (19 ppg), tied for fifth in assists (4.5 apg) and tied for seventh in field goal percentage (.485, 16-of-33) as Minnesota won both of its games.
Behind her 25-point, six-rebound, three-assist effort, Minnesota opened its week with a 79-69 win over the New York Liberty at Madison Square Garden on May 31. Moore then contributed 13 points, six assists, four boards and two steals in an 80-63 win over the visiting Dallas Wings on June 4.
Other candidates for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were the Atlanta Dream’s Angel McCoughtry, the Chicago Sky’s Elena Delle Donne, Dallas’ Aerial Powers, Indiana’s Tiffany Mitchell, the Los Angeles Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker, the San Antonio Stars’ Kayla McBride and Seattle’s Breanna Stewart.
For more information on this week’s Players of the Week, visit www.wnba.com/awards.
2016 WNBA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week Ending East Player Team West Player Team
5/22/16 Tina Charles New York Maya Moore Minnesota
5/29/16 Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Candace Parker Los Angeles
6/5/16 Tina Charles New York Maya Moore Minnesota
