Senior center Tina Charles has been named the 2009 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, it was announced Friday. The decision was made by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.
Charles had two stints with USA Basketball during the off-season. She led the U.S. to the gold medal at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia July 2-11 and then helped the U.S. Women’s National Team win the gold medal at the Ekaterinburg International Invitational in Russia Oct. 9-11.
“It feels great,’’ Charles said. “It’s a huge honor. Just all the hard work … I believe I started playing USA Basketball when I was like 15, and just the fact that they always continue to invite me and I just wanted to show dedication to USA Basketball and just how much it means to me.’’
Charles averaged team-highs of 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds in 19.0 minutes as the U.S. won its third straight gold medal at the World University Games. She then averaged 12.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in 16.7 minutes off the bench for the National Team, finishing second on the team in scoring and rebounding behind Angel McCoughtry (15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds).
Charles spent 39 days this year training or competing with a USA Basketball team. USA Basketball will now nominate her for the U.S. Olympic Committee’s 2010 Sportswoman of the Year, which is expected to be announced in January.
“The only thing more impressive than Tina’s play this past summer was the amount of time she committed to USA Basketball,’’ USA Basketball Executive Director/CEO Jim Tooley said. “After leading the USA to gold in the World University Games, she returned to help the USA to a second gold medal in Russia and proved herself on the court against professionals. We are grateful for her service in 2009, and we expect great things from her in the future.’’
Rich
