NEW YORK — Tina Charles, the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder, is retiring from the league, the eight-time All-Star announced Tuesday on social media.
“I officially announce my retirement from basketball. Fifteen years at the professional level and a lifetime of love for this game,” Charles wrote in her post.
“I´ve experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows, and I´m thankful for all of it. Through it all, I learned how to show up,” Charles added according to AP.
Charles, who had 4,262 rebounds in her career, also finished as the league’s No. 2 all-time scorer behind Diana Taurasi. The 15-year veteran scored 8,396 points in the regular season.
“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.”
Charles was the No. 1 pick by the Connecticut Sun in 2010 after helping the UConn Huskies win consecutive NCAA championships in 2009 and 2010. She was the AP Player of the Year in 2010.
She played with the Sun until 2013 before a blockbuster trade sent her home to New York.
She starred in her hometown through the 2019 season. She sat out the WNBA bubble season the next year before playing in Washington, Phoenix, Seattle and Atlanta.
Charles came back to Connecticut last season and started 42 games while averaging 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds.
