It may still be winter, but things are getting real hot in The Valley.
The W’s leading scorer in 2021 is taking her talents to Phoenix after the team announced Tina Charles is signing a one-year $108,000 deal with the Mercury.
Tina Charles signed with the Phoenix Mercury for one-year, fully protected contract of $108,000 @Winsidr is informed.
— Rachel Galligan (@RachGall) February 4, 2022
“For us, this move is about adding absolute top-end talent into our frontcourt, which already features what we consider the most dominant player in the game in (Brittney Griner) and the league’s best defender in Brianna Turner,” Mercury general manager Jim Pitman said. “We expect to be able to play all three fewer minutes, which should benefit us in the playoffs.”
The former 2012 league MVP is coming off of arguably her most outstanding season in the W to date, averaging 23.4 points, 9.6 boards, and 2.1 dimes per game with the Washington Mystics last season.
An imposing force in the paint, Charles not only shot 44.9 percent from the field last season but also drastically improved her outside shot, shooting 36.5 percent from deep as opposed to just 18.6 percent the year prior.
Alongside the recent addition of Diamond DeShields, the Mercury is also rocking with five Olympic gold medalists from the 2021 Tokyo Games in Charles, Brittany Griner, Diana Taurasi, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Kia Nurse.
Entering her 12th season in the W, Charles and the Phoenix Mercury will look to avenge their 2021 championship hopes with a retooled, star-studded roster.
