Cheryl Evans/The Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK

Dream Send Strong Message to Tina Charles Amid WNBA Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated May 25, 2025 10:55 PM ET

At 36, Tina Charles is still going strong for the Connecticut Sun in her 15th WNBA season.

She didn't exactly have her best performance on Sunday, as she shot just 5-of-20 from the field in the Sun's 79-55 loss to the Atlanta Dream. But she averaged 15.7 points and 6.7 assists a game while shooting 47.2% from the floor in her previous three games this season.

Charles is likely on her way to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame after she calls it quits. The Dream paid tribute to their former player with a heartfelt video they posted on X on Sunday. Charles previously signed with the Dream in 2024, before returning to the team that drafted her in 2025.

Forever The Greatest Of All Time ❤️#DoItForTheDream pic.twitter.com/hmlZBii49G
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) May 25, 2025

Charles, a 6-foot-4 center, started out her career with the Sun after she was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft. In college, she had led UConn to back-to-back women's NCAA championships in 2009 and 2010, and she was the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament in 2009.

As a rookie, she put up 15.5 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game and was named the Rookie of the Year.

In the seasons that followed, she was named to the All-Star team eight times, won the league MVP award in 2012 and led everyone in rebounding four times. She also earned two Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016 as a member of Team USA basketball.

Sunday's loss dropped Connecticut to a 0-4 record to start this season. It shot a pitiful 31.3% from the field against the Dream and was outrebounded 52-34.

The team reached the semifinals last year, before losing to the Minnesota Lynx in five games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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