BALTIMORE (Azat TV) – When the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries collide on the WNBA Finals stage, the spotlight naturally gravitates toward rebounding leader Angel Reese. But a deeper look at the hardwood reveals a compelling shared lineage rooted in the mid-Atlantic. Golden State guard Kaila Charles, a Prince George’s County native and University of Maryland alumna, has emerged as a vital, high-motor defensive presence off the bench for the Valkyries, matching Reese’s physical intensity and anchoring a grueling championship series.
Reporting in an article published by The Baltimore Banner, journalist Kyle Goon explores how the two players’ parallel paths from the playgrounds and AAU circuits of Maryland converged on the league’s grandest stage. For Reese, seeing Charles on the opposing bench is a reminder of the foundational basketball culture that shaped her own career. Recalling her decision to commit to the Terrapins, Reese pointed to Charles and program standout Alyssa Thomas as primary inspirations.
A Shared Pedigree in DMV Basketball
The connection between Reese and Charles extends back to Team Takeover, the prominent Nike Girls Elite Youth Basketball League program in Prince George’s County. Team director Ron James watched both athletes develop their trademark relentless styles on the asphalt and hardwood. While Reese eventually led the AAU program to its first national title, Charles paved the way years earlier as a fierce competitor who refused to cede an inch during grueling practices.
That competitive drive carried Charles through a decorated college career in College Park. She earned McDonald’s All-American honors out of Riverdale Baptist School and went on to start 135 games for Maryland, tying Alyssa Thomas’s program record and solidifying her place among the Terps’ top scorers and rebounders. Former teammate Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, now playing alongside Reese in Atlanta, noted that Charles’s physical impact was unmistakable even during her freshman year, characterized by relentless rebounding and deflections.
Navigating Hardship to Find Stability
Despite her collegiate success, Charles’s professional journey tested her resolve. Her senior campaign with the No. 4 Terps was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020—a cancellation that longtime coach Brenda Frese lamented as a missed opportunity for a guaranteed Final Four run. Drafted by the Connecticut Sun, Charles was subsequently waived multiple times and endured professional stints in Hungary and Italy.
It took until 2025 for Charles to secure long-term stability in the league, signing a hardship contract with the expansion Valkyries before inking a multiyear deal in April. That perseverance has culminated in a high-stakes postseason role, bringing her full circle as she battles her fellow Maryland native for the championship trophy.