When the Atlanta Dream took the floor last night in New York against the Liberty, they faced an overwhelming challenge: win the game, get in the playoffs. Lose, and they would find themselves facing a labyrinth of tie breakers, several of which could send them home.
The leader who stepped up was veteran Tina Charles. She was drafted back In 2010, but Charles is still playing at a very high level, and in the process of helping her team to the playoffs she set a pair of rebounding records that are likely to last far beyond the end of her amazing career.
Tina Charles is now the career leader in two important rebounding categories
Charles set her first record late in the first quarter, as she passed Sylvia Fowles for the career rebound record. Fowles had 4,006, so setting this mark was impressive indeed, and it attests to both her prowess as a rebounder and her staying power as an excellent player.
The second record came halfway through the third quarter, and it was just as noteworthy. That was when Charles posted the 194th double-double of her career, once again putting Fowles record of 193 double-doubles in the rear view.
Her final achievement was also significant. Charles is now the only player in WNBA history to record over 4,000 rebounds and 7,000 points, and she stands alone at the top of that particular numerical mountain.
The Dream won their biggest game of the season, too
Given her reputation as a team player, Charles doubtless considered the playoff implications of her individual feats secondary to winning the game, which the Dream accomplished by a 78-67 count. Rhyne Howard and Naz Hillman chipped in with 13 points each as the Liberty rested their starters for much of the game.
But that didn’t diminish what Atlanta accomplished. The Dream’s victory over the Liberty was the upset of the night in the WNBA during a very busy, active evening that set up the final matchups for the upcoming playoffs.
The irony of Charles achievement and Atlanta’s win is that it sets up a series against the Liberty that starts on Sunday in New York. The Liberty will be coming hard at the Dream during that game, and none of the starters will be resting.
One benefit of this matchup is that Atlanta won’t be traveling for the playoffs, at least not to start. They’ll remain in New York after packing for an extended stay, and their optimism was rewarded with the reality of a playoff berth. That should save some wear and tear, so expect the Dream to be rested and ready for this particular road trip.
The playoff matchup poses unique challenges
One of the automatic challenges of any 1-8 matchup is the disparity in records and perceived talent levels between the two teams. That’s definitely the case between Atlanta and New York, as the Liberty finished the season at 32-8, giving them a final 17-game lead over the Dream, who ended up 15-25.
Atlanta’s impressive victory notwithstanding, New York will go into this series as heavy favorites, and the Liberty will be odds-on favorites to win the championship as well. The Dream will have to steal a game in New York to get the series back home to Atlanta, and it will take a team effort to do it.
Tina Charles will be part of that effort. Even at 32, she remains a stalwart rebounder, as her latest records prove. She’ll spend this series battling the likes of Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones for more rebounds, and regardless of the outcome of the series, it’s safe to assume she’ll come away with more than her share.