Tina Charles has officially announced her retirement, bringing an end to one of the most accomplished careers in WNBA history.
"Today, I officially announce my retirement from basketball," Charles wrote in a social media post.
"Fifteen years at the professional level and a lifetime of love for this game... Through it all, I learned how to show up. When doubt got loud and narratives were written about me, I kept showing up. That's the New Yorker in me, where resilience is built, not talked about."
The 37-year-old steps away after 15 seasons as the league's all-time leading rebounder and second all-time top scorer.
Charles finishes her career with 4,262 rebounds and 8,396 points, trailing only Diana Taurasi on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list.
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Connecticut Sun in 2010, the UConn product made an immediate impact at the professional level. She won Rookie of the Year before earning MVP honors in 2012, going on to become an eight-time WNBA All-Star.
Charles played for multiple teams throughout her career, including the New York Liberty, Washington Mystics, Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm, and Atlanta Dream, before returning to Connecticut in 2025. In her final season, she averaged 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds.
While she never got the chance to play in a WNBA finals, Charles's international basketball resume includes three Olympic gold medals and multiple FIBA World Cup titles with Team USA.
Her impact extended off the court as well.
"Her legacy will be defined not only by her excellence on the court, but by the standard she set as a leader, a teammate, and a champion for the communities she touched," WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a league statement.
Charles leaves the game as one of the most defining players in WNBA history.
