Fifteen years after she started her WNBA profession, Tina Charles is heading again to the Connecticut Solar, the place she was drafted because the No. 1 total choose in 2010.
Charles, the WNBA’s second-leading all-time scorer and all-time main rebounder, is signing a one-year take care of the Solar — who entered an offseason of uncertainty that has been headlined a lot of the Solar’s rotation gamers departing for different organizations.
“As we speak marks an unimaginable second in our crew’s historical past as we welcome again one of many biggest gamers to ever grace the WNBA,” stated Morgan Tuck, the crew’s newly-appointed normal supervisor, in an official press launch.
“Tina not solely helped outline the success of this franchise throughout her early years, however she additionally set the bar for excellence, each on and off the courtroom. Her ardour, management, and dedication to the sport have left an unimaginable mark on our league, and we couldn’t be extra excited to have her return to the crew the place all of it started. It is a full-circle second that strengthens our basis and evokes the subsequent technology of gamers and followers alike. We’re extraordinarily excited for this subsequent chapter of Connecticut Solar historical past with Tina again in a Solar uniform.”
Charles gained’t immediately elevate the Solar into relevancy, however she does function the crew’s first free company signing — and an impactful one, at that. In her 430-game profession, Charles has averaged 17.9 factors, 9.3 rebounds, and one block. She was named the league MVP in 2012, and is taken into account to be one of many biggest WNBA gamers to by no means win a championship.
What Tina Charles brings to the Connecticut Solar
Tina Charles didn’t play within the WNBA in 2023, however returned in 2024 and had a productive season with the Atlanta Dream, averaging 14.9 factors and 9.6 rebounds per sport. At 36 years previous, she’s not the identical power she as soon as was — neither is she as environment friendly a post-player as Brionna Jones, who signed with the Dream earlier this week.
However, she remains to be one of many higher bigs within the WNBA, and somebody will carry veteran expertise to a crew whose 2025 roster at present stays unsure. She’s additionally a prolific rebounder who can successfully compete with any of the league’s premier put up gamers.
Charles had a number of standout moments final season, together with a game-winning midrange shot that gave the Dream a victory over the Storm in August.
The Dream, stricken by accidents, underperformed final 12 months. However, Charles was a shiny spot in what was an in any other case letdown 12 months in Atlanta. Followers on the Mohegan Solar Area will get to take pleasure in watching one of many sport’s all-time greatest gamers compete on a nightly foundation.
The Solar at present have 7 gamers underneath contract for subsequent season
The Solar’s whole beginning lineup from final season is now not on the roster. Alyssa Thomas and Ty Harris have been traded to the Phoenix Mercury (with Harris later being traded to the Dallas Wings). DiJonai Carrington, who was a restricted free agent, was traded to the Wings in alternate for rookie Jacy Sheldon (the Solar additionally acquired the 2025 No. 8 choose for the No. 12 choose). And, earlier Sunday morning, ESPN reported that DeWanna Bonner, who was a free agent, signed with the Indiana Fever.
In addition they misplaced backup level guard Veronica Burton, who was chosen by the Golden State Valkyries of their growth draft.
That leaves the present 2025 roster as follows:
- Natasha Cloud (acquired by way of commerce from Phoenix)
- Marina Mabrey (was already underneath contract)
- Lindsay Allen (acquired by way of commerce from Chicago)
- Tina Charles (signed as a free agent)
- Olivia Nelson-Ododa (was already underneath contract)
- Jacy Sheldon (acquired by way of commerce from Dallas)
- Caitlin Bickle (coaching camp contract)
Connecticut nonetheless has 4 or 5 open roster spots forward of subsequent season, and it’s additionally attainable that any of the gamers they at present have underneath contract shall be flipped. It’s nonetheless an unsure offseason in Uncasville, however Charles marks the crew’s first impactful free-agency signing. It additionally alerts the Solar should not essentially coming into a rebuilding period the place the main target shall be accumulating younger expertise — and the way precisely issues will form up within the coming weeks stays to be seen.
