New York Liberty forward Tina Charles is competing for the United States Women’s Basketball National Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, as she attempts to capture her second gold medal as a member of Team USA, and she is the first-ever active member of the Liberty to compete in the Summer Games. Follow along for all of the latest updates on Tina and her teammates on their journey to win an unprecedented sixth-consecutive gold medal.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 20
UNITED STATES 101, SPAIN 72 – Tina Charles: 8 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST
The United States won its sixth-straight Gold Medal with a 101-72 victory over Spain on Saturday afternoon in Rio. The U.S. now owns a 49-game Olympic win streak and an overall record of 66-3 since beginning play in 1976.
Charles filled out the stat sheet once again in the gold medal matchup. She started at forward in all eight games of the Olympic tournament, and finished with eight points, seven rebounds, and five assists against Spain, putting her full complement of versatility on display.
“It’s a blessing to be in this position and have this gold medal around my neck,” said Charles. “I don’t take it for granted, being on this team. I’m happy to be a part of bringing the USA a sixth straight gold medal in women’s basketball.”
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18
UNITED STATES 86, FRANCE 67 – Tina Charles: 4 PTS, 2 AST
Tina Charles and Team USA will be making their sixth-consecutive appearance in the Gold Medal Game thanks to an 86-67 win over France in the Olympic medal semifinals on Thursday night.
“It’s really hard to get back to the gold medal game or the championship game for that matter,” said Charles. “We’re really enthusiastic about it and looking forward to Saturday.”
The United States led France by just four points at the half, 40-36, but pulled away in the 3rd quarter thanks to a 25-8 spurt that helped put the game out of reach. Charles finished with four points and a pair of assists in 15 minutes of action, having started every game so far in this Olympics.
“It was definitely tough,” Tina Charles said. “They came out and competed. They wanted to get to the gold medal game just as much as we did. I think our post players did a really great job, especially Syl (Sylvia Fowles) down low.”
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16
UNITED STATES 110, JAPAN 64 – Tina Charles: 4 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST
Once again Tina Charles was able to impact her team in a variety of ways as she helped the U.S. Women’s Basketball National Team pick up a 110-64 over Japan in the Olympic Quarterfinals on Tuesday evening.
Charles scored four points, but led the United States with five assists, and also hauled in six rebounds.
A close game in the first half, Team USA led 56-46 at the intermission before taking complete control in the second half. Over the final 20 minutes of action, Charles and the American squad outscored Japan 62-18. It was the fifth time in six games during Olympic play that the U.S. has eclipsed 100 points, and the team is on pace to break its own Olympic scoring average, set back in 1996.
The United States will battle France in the semifinals on Thursday, August 18, with a berth into the Olympic Gold Medal game on the line. That contest will be a rematch of the 2012 Olympic final in London.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14
UNITED STATES 105, CHINA 62 – Tina Charles: 18 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST
Tina Charles turned in her most dominant performance of the 2016 Summer games, finishing with 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting to help the United States pick up a 105-62 victory over China in its final preliminary game of Group Play. Team USA finishes first in Group B with an unblemished 5-0 mark, and advances to play Japan in the tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday.
“I think each of us individually want to every game bring out what we are known for, and I think particularly, B.G. (Brittney Griner) and myself were able to do that, including Syl (Sylvia Fowles) on the defensive end and what she’s able to bring in finishing around the basket,” Charles said. “So, I think game by game, you are seeing more players bring out what you know them for.”
Charles started strong, scoring 14 of her team-high 18 points in the first quarter. The U.S. squad finished with a team Olympic record of 40 assists on 46 made field goals, shooting a blistering 62.2 percent from the field. Defensively, China was limited to 33.8 percent shooting, and netted just 26 points in the first half.
“I think all tournament we’ve been doing a great job on the defensive end, picking up the intensity,” Charles said. “In the second half, you don’t want to get complacent. You still want to have that sense of urgency like you do when the score is 0-0.”
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13
OUT AND ABOUT IN RIO/SELARON STEPS
With just one more preliminary game before advancing to the Olympic quarterfinals, Tina Charles and her USA teammates were able to get away and enjoy some of the sites in and around Rio during an off day. Charles was joined by her mother and teammate Tamika Catchings as she headed over to Escadaria Selarón to walk the Selaron Steps, a world famous urban art installment that spans 215 steps and 125 meters in length.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 12
UNITED STATES 81, CANADA 51 – Tina Charles: 10 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST
Behind a balanced team effort, the U.S. Women’s National Team clinched first place in Group B and improved to 4-0 in preliminary action with an 81-51 win over Canada on Friday afternoon.
Tina Charles scored in double figures once again, finishing with 10 points to go along with five rebounds and a couple of assists. She was one of three players to score in double figures for the U.S. squad, which saw 11 of its 12 players hit at least one field goal. Defensively, Team USA limited the Canadians to 32.8 percent shooting while dominating the glass.
One more preliminary game for the United States before tipping off in the Olympic tournament quarterfinals. The U.S. will face China on Sunday, Aug. 14, at 11:15 a.m.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 11
PRACTICE AND SIGHT SEEING
A day off from competition meant practice and some sight seeing for Tina Charles and her Olympic teammates. Following a morning workout, as they get ready to try and clinch first place in Group B on Friday against Canada, Charles and her teammates loaded a bus to go visit the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain in Tijuca Forest National Park. Looks like a great time for Team USA, as they get to enjoy a little bit of Rio before shifting focus back to the quest for a sixth-straight gold medal.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10
UNITED STATES 110, SERBIA 84 – Tina Charles: 15 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL
It was nearly a double-double for Tina Charles, as she finished with 15 points and eight rebounds to help the U.S. Women’s Basketball National Team outlast Serbia 110-84 in its third preliminary round game on Wednesday. After a close opening period, the United States created some distance with a big run to end the second quarter, taking a 56-34 lead into the half with Charles scoring the final seven points of the period.
While defensively, the U.S. allowed Serbia to shoot 12-of-20 from 3-point range, the American squad excelled by dishing out 31 assists on 38 made baskets, with four of those dimes coming from Charles, and the U.S. shot 26-of-26 at the free-throw line; Charles was 7-of-7 at the stripe.
Up next on Friday afternoon is a showdown with the Canadian National Team, which is also 3-0 so far in group play. A victory, and the U.S. can clinch Group B, thanks to its win over Spain earlier in the tournament.
MONDAY, AUGUST 8
UNITED STATES 103, SPAIN 63 – Tina Charles: 8 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST, 2 BLK, 2 STL
The United States Women’s National Team recorded back-to-back 100-point games during Olympic play for the first time since 2004 with its 103-63 victory over Spain in its second preliminary round action on Monday at Deodoro Youth Arena.
While Tina Charles was not one of the five players to score in double figures in the win, she did fill out the stat sheet, demonstrating many of the same diverse offensive and defensive abilities she has put on display throughout the Liberty’s season. After finding foul trouble early in the first quarter, Charles returned to finish with eight points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks, two steals, doing a little bit of everything to help her team win and improve to 2-0 early in the preliminary rounds.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
UNITED STATES 121, SENEGAL 66 – Tina Charles: 10 PTS, 2 REB, 2 STL
It was a record-breaking start to the preliminary round of the Summer games as Tina Charles and Team USA picked up a 121-65 win over Senegal in its tournament opener. The 121 points represented a new all-time high for the U.S. Women’s National Team, as did its 65-point margin of victory.
Charles received the start and finished as one of seven players in double figures, scoring 10 points (5-7 FG) with two rebounds and two steals.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6
2016 SUMMER GAMES OPENING CEREMONIES
One day before officially tipping off, Tina and Team USA were able to attend the Opening Ceremonies with the entire United Stats contingency. Great photo with fellow New York and Knicks’ star Carmelo Anthony, breaking records of his own with the men’s Olympic team. Looks like it was a lot of fun getting ready to open the games!