Tina Charles Reflects on Her Time in Connecticut, From UConn to the Sun: 'I'm Proud to Be Part of That Story' originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
For over nine years, Tina Charles lived and breathed Connecticut . From winning national championships to MVP awards, Charles represented the state with pride. Retiring as a member of the Sun , she will be honored by the franchise before the end of an era.
The Sun will retire Charles' No. 31 at the Mohegan Sun Arena on August 25. The ceremony will honor Connecticut's first overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft before the team moves to Houston in 2027.
Charles played with the team from 2010 to 2013. After being traded to the Liberty, she played around the league before returning to the Sun for the 2025 season, her final season in the WNBA.
It's a run the Christ the King product will never forget, as she went from a Huskie to a member of the Sun to a future Hall of Famer.
"Dear Connecticut, there's always been something special about you, especially when it comes to basketball," Charles said in a video, reflecting on her journey. "Because here, you lifted women's basketball up. You gave us a home, and then the ones that came before me delivered. They showed us all we could be, and I believed them. And then I came here as a kid from New York City with big dreams and the desire to be the best, but Connecticut taught me what it would take to get there.
"This is where I learned discipline, what commitment really looked like, to show up every single day. That's Connecticut basketball. I learned how to handle pressure, expectations, and the big moments, and then my journey brought me right down the road. From Storrs to the Connecticut Sun , I found another home. Putting on a Sun jersey, you feel armored by every woman who came before you, by the standard they set, and the legacy they left.
"This is where my WNBA career started, where I became an MVP and an Olympian, and I'm proud to be part of that story. I'm thankful for all of it, not just the wins, but the hard and uncertain times, too. Now, as the sun sets on this chapter, I get to say goodbye to a place that helped shape me. What you helped build here ripples so far beyond these state lines. This game has come so far, and we wouldn't be here without you. Connecticut, thank you."
Following the jersey retirement, Charles will likely have her number retired with the Huskies after her eventual Hall of Fame induction.
The WNBA's all-time rebounding leader, Charles started grabbing boards as a member of the UConn Huskies.
The 2010 Player of the Year led the Huskies to a national championship win as a junior in 2009, and helped bring the team back to glory in 2010. Charles holds the record for most rebounds (1,367) and free-throw attempts (644) in Huskies history.
Drafted by the Sun in 2010, Charles won Rookie of the Year honors, setting league records for rebounds and double-doubles. She led all rookies with 15.5 points per game.
Two years later, she was named the 2012 WNBA MVP, beating out Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings. Leading the league in double-doubles, Charles set the Sun single-season scoring record and helped guide the team to the top of the Eastern Conference for the playoffs.
The multi-time rebounding champion was traded to the Liberty the next year. It took until 2025 for her to return to Connecticut. The multi-time All-Star finished the 2025 season averaging 16.3 points per game, the most since 2022.
| Stat |
Charles (per game) |
|---|---|
| Seasons |
4 |
| Games |
152 |
| Championships |
2 |
| Points |
15.4 |
| Rebounds |
9.0 |
| Assists |
1.2 |
| Steals |
0.6 |
| Blocks |
2.0 |
| Turnovers |
2.0 |
| Minutes |
25.5 |
| FG% |
.610 |
| FT% |
.637 |
| Stat |
Charles (per game) |
|---|---|
| Seasons |
5 |
| Games |
173 |
| Points |
17.0 |
| Rebounds |
9.6 |
| Assists |
1.7 |
| Steals |
0.7 |
| Blocks |
1.2 |
| Turnovers |
2.1 |
| Minutes |
31.6 |
| FG% |
.456 |
| 3P% |
.224 |
| FT% |
.779 |
