Tina Charles looked content and at home on the Barclays Center court Thursday night.
The WNBA veteran from Jamaica, N.Y., — who played six seasons with the Liberty — greeted old fans in the stands.
She also greeted her 40-plus friends, family, former AAU teammates and ex-high school coaches.
It was a perfect homecoming for Charles, who also helped the Dream clinch the eighth and final playoff spot with a 78-67 win over the No. 1 Liberty.
The teams will meet again in the first round when they begin their best-of-three series, starting at 1p.m. Sunday in Brooklyn.
“It’s like the perfect storm. God couldn’t have written it any other way,” Charles said before scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Dream’s win Thursday. “I’m thankful I’m able to be here at home. My parents are able to be here, close friends, family. Just going to go out, it’s going to be a great show. Just the attraction of New York, the fan base they’ve been able to garner here coming from the city, from MSG, to Brooklyn. It’s great for me to see it come all the way around full circle. I’m just thankful to be a part of it.”
Charles, 35, also was honored by the New York Basketball Hall of Fame before tipoff as a 2024 inductee, and on Thursday she broke the WNBA’s all-time rebounding record after snagging her third board of the game.
This all comes in a season Charles didn’t think she would be a part of.
She didn’t participate in the 2023 season and instead contemplated retirement, but her love of the game brought her back for another season.
“It’s been in the works for maybe a handful of months. I’m just thankful to God,” Charles said of the Hall of Fame honor. “I can’t believe I’m at this moment in this year in my career or just this age that I’m at. … It’s just a blessing to be able to represent New York.”
The eight-time All-Star and 2012 MVP played for the Liberty from 2014 to 2019.
She played in the days of Madison Square Garden and the Liberty’s mascot, Maddie, who Charles said she is still loyal to over the beloved Ellie who was introduced at Barclays.
During Charles’ time with the Liberty, she averaged nearly a double-double with 18.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Charles, who has already been playing in playoff mode, will be looking to get the best of her former team once again to keep the Dream’s season alive.
“She’s playing great ball. This is an elite player that’s been in this league for so long and knows how to put the ball on the floor,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “Tina, she’s a bucket. She’s a walking bucket. So, we have to make things a little bit harder for her.”
