From Franchise Legend to Front Office Intern: Tina Charles Begins New Chapter With the New York Liberty
New York Liberty legend Tina Charles has stepped into a new role with the franchise, serving as a front office intern under CEO Keia Clarke. While pursuing a master's degree in sports management at the University of Connecticut, Charles is gaining practical experience in sports administration, marketing, and executive leadership.
Former New York Liberty star Tina Charles has embarked on a new phase of her sports career, trading her uniform for a front office position as an intern with the franchise, according to reporting by Andscape senior writer Sean Hurd.
Charles, who retired in May following a 14-season career in the WNBA, holds the franchise records for career points and rebounds, having scored 3,739 points for New York between 2014 and 2019. During Game 2 of the Liberty's first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Lynx at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the arena jumbotron displayed her image with the title "Liberty all-time scorer." However, Charles admitted to Andscape that she joked about having her title listed as "Liberty intern" instead.
The internship began in September as Charles enrolled in a graduate program at her alma mater, the University of Connecticut, where she is pursuing a master's degree in sports management. Her weekly schedule includes reporting to the Liberty's office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 10 a.m. to shadow Chief Executive Officer Keia Clarke. On Wednesdays, she drives two hours to UConn's campus in Storrs, Connecticut, to attend her graduate classes.
According to Andscape, the arrangement developed after Charles reached out directly to Clarke, whom she has known since joining the team as a player in 2014 when Clarke worked in the marketing department. Clarke noted to Andscape that while she does not typically oversee an intern directly, creating the role offered Charles essential exposure to the daily operational transition from professional athletics to executive administration.
Throughout her internship, Charles participates in meetings covering operations, marketing, branding, and strategic partnerships. She told Andscape that the front office environment requires a long-term strategic perspective that contrasts with the immediate, play-by-play focus required of active professional players.
In addition to her front office responsibilities and graduate studies, Charles maintains several business and charitable initiatives. In July, she established a craft beer enterprise named 78 Brewing Co., and she continues her leadership with her non-profit organization, the Hopey's Heart foundation, which provides automated external defibrillators to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest. Charles has also taken on broadcasting duties as an analyst for networks covering the WNBA and the FIBA World Cup.
During her time in the executive suite, Charles highlighted the significance of working alongside the Black female leadership team driving the Liberty's operations, including Clarke, Chief Brand Officer Shana Stephenson, and Vice President of Business Operations Morgan Taylor. Charles emphasized to Andscape that observing three Black women lead executive operations serves as a meaningful inspiration as she contemplates her future career path in women's basketball governance.