Tina Charles’ No. 31 is officially retired and hanging high in the rafters at Mohegan Sun Arena, a massive shoutout to a legacy born and perfected right there in Uncasville. The Connecticut Sun inducted Charles into their Sun Legends club Tuesday night, making it truly ‘full circle’ for one of the league’s all-time greats.
“Full Circle” Doesn’t Even Begin To Cover It
Man, what a night for Tina Charles! The ceremony went down on August 25, 2026, right before the Sun squared off against the Chicago Sky. It wasn’t just about getting a banner; it was about honoring nine years of dedication. Charles had her friends, family, and even fellow former Husky Kalana Greene there. Then, talk about a surprise: her old UConn teammate Tiffany Hayes, who plays for the Golden State Valkyries and was set to play the Sun Wednesday night, popped up! Sun president Jen Rizzotti, another former Husky, gave Charles a custom varsity jacket and the Sun Legends banner right at center court. Charles nailed it, telling reporters, “I’m just thankful that my legacy did start here… Connecticut is a lot of who I am and who I became, and it’s very full circle.” You can just feel the history in that quote. She’s the last former *player* to get this honor, with former coach Mike Thibault getting his moment on September 20. It’s cool how the Sun are building this: Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas, Curt Miller, and Jasmine Thomas all joined the Legends earlier this summer. And let’s not forget the OGs like Nykesha Sales, Lindsay Whalen, Asjha Jones, Margo Dydek, Katie Douglas, and Taj McWilliams-Franklin who were first in!
From UConn Champ To WNBA Legend: Her Sun Story
Seriously, Charles’ path is just wild. She led UConn to back-to-back undefeated national championships, then the Sun snatched her up as the No. 1 overall pick in 2010. She crushed it in her first four years with Connecticut, snagging Rookie of the Year in 2010 and then becoming the franchise’s very first player to win league MVP honors in 2012. Last year, she even came back to the Sun for her final WNBA season, officially retiring this May right before the 2026 season kicked off. Her career stats? Insane! Eight-time All-Star, and the league’s all-time rebounding leader. That’s a legacy right there. Oh, and get this: during the game, Charles was holding a can of SUNSET Hazy IPA from her own 78 Brewing Co., a Connecticut-based brewery! The beer is “dedicated to the players, fans and coaches who helped build the Connecticut Sun legacy” and is “crafted with discipline” and “brewed with excellence.” How cool is that to have your own brew dedicated to your team’s history?
What an absolutely unforgettable night for Tina Charles and the Connecticut Sun! Not only did they celebrate an absolute legend, but the Sun also pulled off an 87-81 victory against the Chicago Sky. Now we can all look forward to September 20th, when former Sun head coach Mike Thibault gets his much-deserved honor as the final Sun Legend. It’s a powerful statement from a franchise that truly values its history and the people who built it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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