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 general decide in 2010.
Charles, the WNBA’s second-leading all-time scorer and all-time main rebounder, is signing a one-year cope with the Solar — who entered an offseason of uncertainty that has been headlined many of the Solar’s rotation gamers departing for different organizations.
“At the moment marks an unimaginable second in our crew’s historical past as we welcome again one of many best gamers to ever grace the WNBA,” stated Morgan Tuck, the crew’s newly-appointed common 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 following 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 received’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 best 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 At 36 years outdated, she’s not the identical drive she as soon as was — neither is she as environment friendly a post-player as Brionna Jones, who signed with the Dream earlier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 continues to be one of many higher bigs within the WNBA, and somebody will carry veteran expertise to a crew whose 2025 roster at the moment stays unsure. She’s additionally a prolific rebounder who can successfully compete with any of the league’s premier submit 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, tormented by accidents, underperformed final yr. However, Charles was a shiny spot in what was an in any other case letdown yr in Atlanta. Followers on the Mohegan Solar Enviornment will get to take pleasure in watching one of many sport’s all-time greatest gamers compete on a nightly foundation.
The Solar at the moment have 7 gamers beneath contract for subsequent season
The Solar’s complete beginning lineup from final season is now not on the roster. Alyssa Thomas and Ty Harris had 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 change for rookie Jacy Sheldon (the Solar additionally acquired the 2025 No. 8 decide for the No. 12 decide). And, earlier Sunday morning, ESPN reported that DeWanna Bonner, who was a free agent, signed with the Indiana Fever.
Additionally 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 through commerce from Phoenix)
- Marina Mabrey (was already beneath contract)
- Lindsay Allen (acquired through commerce from Chicago)
- Tina Charles (signed as a free agent)
- Olivia Nelson-Ododa (was already beneath contract)
- Jacy Sheldon (acquired through 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 doable that any of the gamers they at the moment have beneath contract will probably 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 are usually not essentially getting into a rebuilding period the place the main focus will probably be accumulating younger expertise — and the way precisely issues will form up within the coming weeks stays to be seen.
