Tina Charles, an American professional basketball player for the Connecticut Sun, is the only daughter of Angella Holgate and Rawiston Charles.
She credits her parents for being a catalyst in staying committed to her goal.
Highlights
- Rawiston Charles is from Trinidad & Tobago, and Angella Holgate is Jamaican.
- Angella took Tina to baseball games, while Rawiston introduced her to music and Knicks basketball, inspiring her love for sports.
- She credits her parents’ sacrifices and guidance for keeping her focused on basketball, which ultimately led to her success in the WNBA.
Tina returned to the Connecticut Sun, the team that drafted her 15 years before, as a free agent on February 2, 2025. She is considered to be the best player in WNBA history not to have appeared in the Finals.
She was the Sun’s first pick in the 2010 WNBA draft and was named the 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Year.
Moreover, she was named the 2012 WNBA MVP and became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 900, 1,000, and 1,100 rebounds.
However, the Sun traded her to the New York Liberty just before the 2014 WNBA draft, where she was voted into the 2017 WNBA All-Star Game.
Tina was traded to the Washington Mystics on April 15, 2020, and signed with the Phoenix Mercury on February 4, 2022.
She played for the Seattle Storm in 2022 and the Atlanta Dream in 2021 before returning to the Sun.
Today marks an incredible moment in our team’s history as we welcome back one of the greatest players to every grace the WNBA. Tina not only helped define the success of this franchise during her early years, but she also set the bar for excellence, both on and off the court. Her passion, leadership, and dedication to the game have left an incredible mark on our league, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her return to the team where it all began.
Sun General Manager Morgan Tuck
Tina Charles’ Caribbean Roots And Family Passion Shaped A WNBA Legend
Tina Alexandria Charles, the only daughter of Angella Holgate and Rawiston Charles, was born on December 5, 1988, in New York City, New York.
She owes much of her success and upbringing to her parents. Their diverse backgrounds and unwavering support helped shape her into the athlete and person she is today.
Tina’s parents come from two different Caribbean nations, providing her with a rich cultural heritage. Her father hails from Trinidad and Tobago, while her mother is from Jamaica.
They eventually settled in Queens, New York, where Tina was raised alongside many of their family relatives. The WNBA star was immersed in a vibrant, sports-loving environment growing up in Queens.
Rawiston, a recording producer in Brooklyn, instilled in Tina a deep appreciation for music. She listened to every piece of music that her father gave her.
Meanwhile, Angella, a New York Mets season ticket holder, often took her to games at Shea Stadium after work.
Basketball also became their family affair. Rawiston frequently brought Tina to New York Knicks games, where she grew up idolizing legendary center Patrick Ewing.
Afterward, she led Christ the King High School to back-to-back undefeated state championships.
Tina has often credited her parents for keeping her focused on her goals. Their discipline, encouragement, and sacrifices played a crucial role in her development, both on and off the court.
Tina Charles’s Father Is The Unsung Pioneer Of Soca And Calypso Music
Rawlston Charles’ contributions have played a significant role in spreading calypso and soca music worldwide.
His iconic record shop, Charlie’s Calypso City, his influential Charlie’s Records label, and his recording studio became key figures in the international music scene.
Rawlston Charles: Calypso's defenderhttps://t.co/8DR0e7p1By pic.twitter.com/75kJKsszDK
— LoopNewsTT (@LoopNewsTT) May 23, 2019
Rawiston’s studio didn’t just shape Caribbean music, but it also played a crucial role in the early days of hip-hop, hosting some of the genre’s earliest recordings.
As a producer, he was behind some of soca and calypso’s biggest hits, including Calypso Rose’s barrier-breaking “Tempo”, Superblue’s sacred/secular blend “Soca Baptist,” and Explainer’s “Lorraine.”
Furthermore, his daughter, Tina Charles, directed a 2019 documentary, Charlie’s Records, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL), in partnership with Tropicalfete, hosted a special event featuring a Q&A with Rawlston Charles and exclusive excerpts from the documentary.
Nonetheless, it was a rare opportunity to hear from the man who helped bring the sounds of the Caribbean to the world and whose influence continues to resonate in music today.
Additional Information
- Tina Charles stands 1.93m tall and weighs about 87kg.
- She won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA and was inducted into the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame at the head of the Class of 2024.
- Since 2013, she donated her full WNBA salary to the Hopey’s Heart Foundation and announced she would support the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.
- She was awarded the Mannie Jackson Basketball’s Human Spirit Award for her work on education and heart health in 2018.
