On Tuesday night, the Connecticut Sun will honor former WNBA star Tina Charles by retiring her No. 31 jersey in a special ceremony at the Mohegan Sun Arena. This tribute comes shortly after Charles concluded her professional basketball career and marks her induction into the Sun Legends program, a recognition reserved for the franchise’s most iconic players.
The event will celebrate Charles’s illustrious basketball journey, beginning with her collegiate career at UConn. During her time with the Huskies, she led the team to consecutive national championships and set program records for both scoring and rebounding, establishing herself as one of the most dominant players in UConn history.
A Record-Breaking Start at UConn Women’s Basketball
Following her standout college career, Charles was selected first overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2010 WNBA Draft. She immediately made an impact, earning the league’s Rookie of the Year award in her debut season. Just two years later, she was named the WNBA MVP, an accolade that underscored her status as one of the league’s premier talents. Over the course of her career, she garnered eight All-Star selections, showcasing consistent excellence at the highest level of women’s basketball.
Charles’s legacy is especially profound in Connecticut, where she still holds franchise records for career points and rebounds per game. Her remarkable consistency is also reflected in the 80 double-doubles she achieved while wearing the Sun uniform, a testament to her all-around dominance on the court.
Tina Charles’s Full-Circle Moment with Connecticut Sun
Reflecting on the honor, Charles described being named a Connecticut Sun Legend as a moment she “never imagined.” The jersey retirement ceremony and the accompanying recognition symbolize a full-circle moment for the athlete who rose from a standout collegiate player to a WNBA icon, leaving an indelible mark on both the franchise and the league.