Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Tina Charles (basketball)

How Tina Charles (basketball) built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Tina Charles is a highly decorated American professional basketball player currently with the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. Drafted first overall in 2010, she achieved collegiate success at the University of Connecticut, winning two national championships alongside Maya Moore. Charles has also earned three Olympic gold medals representing Team USA. A significant recognition of her career came with her 2024 induction into the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame, where she was the first woman to lead a class and the first active player ever inducted, underscoring her impact and legacy in basketball.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

October 5, 2009: USA National Team Selection

On October 5, 2009, Tina Charles was selected to be one of the USA National Team members to travel to the 2009 Ekaterinburg International Invitational. She was the only college player on the team.

2009: Connecticut Huskies National Championships

In 2009, Tina Charles and her teammate Maya Moore led the Connecticut Huskies to an undefeated national championship.

2009: UConn Huskies National Title

In 2009, Tina Charles led the UConn Huskies to a national title as a junior. She was named Final Four MOP and one of the 10 players on the State Farm All-America team during Final Four weekend. Charles also made a comment to ESPN during a post-championship interview, in regards to the tradition of sports champions who visit the White House after their title game victories, saying, "Barack Obama, we will be here soon!"

2009: USA Basketball Training Camp Invitation

In the fall of 2009, Tina Charles was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp, one of only three college players invited to the training camp.

March 1, 2010: Breaks UConn Records

On March 1, 2010, during a game against Notre Dame, Tina Charles broke two UConn records on the same night. She became the all-time leading rebounder at UConn, surpassing Rebecca Lobo's fifteen-year-old record of 1268. Additionally, Charles surpassed Kerry Bascom and Nykesha Sales to become the leading scorer in UConn history.

October 2010: WNBA versus USA Basketball

In October 2010, Tina Charles was named as one of the National team members to represent the USA Basketball team in the WNBA versus USA Basketball game, as part of the preparation for the FIBA World Championship for Women to be held in the Czech Republic.

October 2010: Won the World Championship with Team USA

In October 2010, Tina Charles, representing the US at the World Championships, secured a gold medal after Team USA defeated the Czech Republic in the championship game. Despite limited practice time, Charles played a crucial role, averaging 10.7 points per game and being the team's second-leading rebounder with 4.8 per game.

2010: Connecticut Huskies National Championships

In 2010, Tina Charles and her teammate Maya Moore led the Connecticut Huskies to an undefeated national championship.

2010: UConn Huskies Win Another Championship

In 2010, Tina Charles and the UConn Huskies won another championship. After the game, Charles made a comment, "President Barack Obama, we're back!"

2010: Selection for FIBA World Championship

In 2010, Tina Charles hoped to be selected from the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp to play for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

2010: WNBA Draft

In 2010, Tina Charles was drafted first overall in the WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun.

2010: Internship at Bergin Correctional Institution

In 2010, Tina Charles, who majored in psychology with a minor in criminal justice and anticipates working in corrections at the close of her basketball career, spent six hours a week as an intern at Bergin Correctional Institution, helping prisoners adjust back to life in society.

September 2, 2011: First Triple-Double in Connecticut Sun History

On September 2, 2011, Tina Charles initially had 10 points, 10 assists and 16 rebounds for the first triple-double in Connecticut Sun history, and only the fifth such accomplishment in WNBA history. However, a subsequent league review resulted in a change, and Charles ended the game with seven assists, not ten.

2011: Plays in Turkey for Galatasaray

In the 2011–12 off-season, Tina Charles played in Turkey for Galatasaray.

August 18, 2012: Fastest to 1,000 Rebounds

On August 18, 2012, Tina Charles recorded nine rebounds in a win over the Liberty. One of the rebounds pushed her career total to 1,000, accomplishing this milestone faster than any other WNBA player in history, reaching 1,000 rebounds in her 89th game.

2012: Plays in Poland for Wisła Can-Pack Kraków

From 2012 to 2014, Tina Charles played two off-seasons in Poland for Wisła Can-Pack Kraków.

2012: Selection for Olympics

In 2012, Tina Charles hoped to be selected from the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp to play for the 2012 Olympics.

2012: Won Olympic Gold Medal

In 2012, Tina Charles played for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in London and won her first Olympic gold medal after they beat France 86–50.

2012: WNBA MVP

In 2012, Tina Charles was named the MVP of the WNBA. She led the league in the number of double-doubles recorded, and set the mark for the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 900, 1,000 and 1,100 rebounds.

2013: Donating Salary to Charity

Since 2013, Tina Charles has donated her full WNBA salary to the charity she started, Hopey's Heart Foundation.

2014: Plays in Poland for Wisła Can-Pack Kraków

From 2012 to 2014, Tina Charles played two off-seasons in Poland for Wisła Can-Pack Kraków.

2014: Traded to New York Liberty

In 2014, Tina Charles was traded to her native team, the New York Liberty, in exchange for Kelsey Bone, the fourth overall pick in the 2014 WNBA draft (Alyssa Thomas) and the fourth overall pick in the 2015 WNBA draft (Elizabeth Williams).

2014: Plays in Turkey for Fenerbahçe

In the 2014–15 off-season, Tina Charles played in Turkey once again for Fenerbahçe.

2015: Trade to New York Liberty

2015: Plays in China for Xinjiang Tianshan Deers

In the 2015–16 off-season, Tina Charles played in China for the Xinjiang Tianshan Deers.

November 2016: Signs with Sichuan Whales

As of November 2016, Tina Charles had signed with the Sichuan Whales for the 2016–17 off-season.

2016: Best Season of Career

In 2016, Tina Charles had the best season of her career, averaging a career-high 21.5 points per game. She also led the league in rebounds and total points scored, claiming the scoring title, and the Liberty finished with a 21–13 record. They were defeated in the second round of the playoffs by the Phoenix Mercury.

2016: Won Second Olympic Gold Medal

In 2016, Tina Charles secured her second Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the Summer Olympics, contributing to their victory over Spain with a final score of 101–72.

June 2, 2017: Career-High 36 Points

On June 2, 2017, Tina Charles scored a career-high 36 points in a 93–89 win over the Dallas Wings.

2017: Re-signs with Sichuan Whales

In 2017, Tina Charles had re-signed with the Sichuan Whales for the 2017–18 off-season.

2018: WNBA All-Star Game Appearance

In 2018, Tina Charles re-signed with the Liberty and was voted into the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game for her sixth all-star game appearance. The Liberty would miss out on the playoffs for the first time in 4 years as they finished 7–27.

2018: Awarded the Mannie Jackson Basketball's Human Spirit Award

In 2018, Tina Charles received the Mannie Jackson Basketball's Human Spirit Award for her dedication to education and heart health, stemming from her work with Hopey's Heart Foundation, which distributes Automated External Defibrillators (AED) to schools, and her funding of a school in Mali.

June 4, 2019: Liberty's All-Time Scoring Leader

On June 4, 2019, Tina Charles became the Liberty's all-time scoring leader after a late-fourth quarter layup in a 78–73 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. She finished the game with 21 points and 14 rebounds.

April 15, 2020: Traded to Washington Mystics

On April 15, 2020, Tina Charles was traded to the Washington Mystics.

2020: Directing Salary to Black Lives Matter

In 2020, Tina Charles announced she would direct that year's salary to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

February 4, 2022: Signs with Phoenix Mercury

On February 4, 2022, Tina Charles signed with the Phoenix Mercury.

June 25, 2022: Buyout from Phoenix Mercury

On June 25, 2022, Tina Charles and the Mercury agreed to a buyout from her contract, officially ending her time in Phoenix. She appeared in 16 games for the Mercury and averaged 17.3 points.

June 28, 2022: Signs with Seattle Storm

On June 28, 2022, Tina Charles signed with the Seattle Storm.

2022: Departure from the Mystics

After two seasons with the Mystics - one sitting out in 2020 - Tina Charles and the Mystics did not re-sign with each other during the 2022 offseason.

2023: Unsigned to a Team

In 2023 Tina Charles was not signed to a team before signing with the Atlanta Dream in 2024.

February 1, 2024: Signs with Atlanta Dream

On February 1, 2024, Tina Charles signed with the Atlanta Dream after not being signed to a team for the 2023 season.

August 21, 2024: Second All-Time Scorer in WNBA History

On August 21, 2024, Tina Charles became the second all-time scorer in WNBA history.

2024: Induction into NYC Basketball Hall of Fame

In 2024, Tina Charles was inducted into the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame as the first female to head a class at any major basketball hall of fame and the first active player ever inducted.