Who says Madison Square Garden goes dark in the summer?
On Friday night (7:30; MSG), the Garden will host a possible WNBA Finals preview, when the Eastern Conference-leading Liberty meet the Minnesota Lynx — the top team in the West — in a pivotal game considering how narrow New York’s lead is in the East.
The game could impact MVP voting also, with Liberty star forward Tina Charles and the Lynx’s Maya Moore, former Connecticut teammates who won two NCAA titles together, matching up.
“It’s always fun when you’re playing a former UConn Huskie,” Charles said of Moore, who is second in the WNBA in scoring at 20.5 points per game. “We both made it. We’re family. It shows what Coach [Geno] Auriemma was able to build. The way Maya plays, everybody knows. She plays hard for 40 minutes. She gives it her all, she’s never going to settle.
“I don’t think about the whole MVP thing. That’s far from my mind. I think about what I can do to help my team be successful on the court. My focus is on my team and my role and what I have to do that night to get the win.”
It has been a memorable season for Charles, a Queens native who starred at local powerhouse Christ the King. She grew up a Liberty fan and was the No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft by the Connecticut Sun. She won Rookie of the Year that season and was the 2012 MVP, before coming home last year as part of a big draft-day trade.
Charles had a frustrating first season for the Liberty. They went just 15-19 and missed the playoffs, but she has led the Liberty to the best record in the league (18-8) this season, 1 ¹/₂ games ahead of the Indiana Fever with eight regular-season games remaining. Charles is averaging 17.9 points per game (fourth in the WNBA), along with 8.7 rebounds (third) and 2.4 assists, while shooting 46 percent from the field.
“It’s very special for me, to be part of it and knowing the history of the team,” Charles said.
Charles felt early on this year would be different from last year. It has been, a credit to the coaching by Bill Laimbeer, the play of Charles’ running mate, guard Epiphanny Prince, and the development and depth of the roster. Eight players average at least 5.3 points per game.
“We could see through training camp,” Charles said. “For us, where we are right now isn’t a shocker.”