The Connecticut Sun announced on Sunday afternoon that eight-time WNBA All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist Tina Charles has signed a one-year contract to rejoin the franchise that first drafted her.
The former No. 1 pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft spent the first four seasons of her career in Connecticut following her illustrious career at UConn, winning a national title with the Huskies in 2009. Charles’ time in Connecticut set the tone for her professional career, winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 2010 and the Most Valuable Player of the Year Award in 2012.
Connecticut Sun’s Tina Charles, left, smiles while awarded the 2012 WNBA MVP award from WNBA president Laurel Richie during a news conference before Game 1 of an opening-round WNBA basketball playoff game against the New York Liberty in Uncasville, Conn., Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)AP
“Today marks an incredible moment in our team’s history as we welcome back one of the greatest players to [ever] grace the WNBA,” Sun general manager Morgan Tuck said in a press release on Sunday afternoon. “Tina not only helped define the success of this franchise during her early years, but she also set the bar for excellence, both on and off the court. Her passion, leadership, and dedication to the game have left an incredible mark on our league, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her return to the team where it all began.
“This is a full-circle moment that strengthens our foundation and inspires the next generation of players and fans alike. We are extremely excited for this next chapter of Connecticut Sun history with Tina back in a Sun uniform.”
Connecticut Sun’s Tina Charles (31) walks with her team during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Phoenix Mercury in Uncasville, Conn., Saturday, June 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)AP
The born-and-raised New Yorker was traded to the Liberty in 2014, where she spent the next six seasons continuing to rack up All-Star and All-WNBA selections among other accolades. After being medically excused to sit out the 2020 WNBA season, Charles has spent the last five seasons bouncing around the league with stops in Washington, Phoenix and Seattle, still producing at a high level for each team.
After opting to sit out the 2023 WNBA season, Charles signed with Atlanta in 2024 and shined, scoring nearly 15 points per game and grabbing 9.6 rebounds per game while playing and starting in 39 out of 40 games for the Dream.
Atlanta Dream center Tina Charles (31) reacts during the first half of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game against the New York Liberty, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)AP
The 36-year-old center returns to a franchise currently in a state of limbo following the mass exodus of nearly the entire roster, with just three players currently set to return from last season and a new head coach entering his first season in the WNBA.
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