Maryland, USA native Kaila Charles was the 23rd overall pick in the 2020 virtual Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) Draft after being selected by the Connecticut Sun last night (Friday 17th April).
Charles, who is of Trinidadian and Antiguan parentage completed her four-year collegiate career at the University of Maryland, where she averaged 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals.
Along her very fruitful path, Charles' most recent achievements were earning the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Coaches' All-America Honorable Mention honors, and All-America honors from the Associated Press and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association this year.
In her senior year (2019 - 2020) she scored a season high 28 points in the Terrapins' 72-62 win over Ohio State University and pulled down a career high 18 rebounds versus the University of Iowa. Charles also guided Maryland to its fifth Big Ten championship and fourth Big Ten Tournament title in March, 2020. Subsequently, she was unanimously selected on the All-Big Ten First Team, her third consecutive pick following her All-Freshman Team selection in 2017.
No stranger to the twin island of Trinidad & Tobago (T&T), Charles is the daughter of Walter Charles (T&T) and Ruperta Charles (Antigua), and has three older siblings Darron, Afia and Akil.
Expressing her emotions via social media, Charles openly stated 'All glory to God. Since I was a little girl, I always dreamed about being in the WNBA.' She continued 'Thank you Connecticut Sun for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime and making my wildest dream come true. Cheers to new beginnings.'
Source: NBFTT Press Release dated 18th April, 2020
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