She was the franchise’s first participant to earn league MVP honors and stays the franchise chief in profession factors and rebounds per recreation.
And now, not even 4 months since retiring, she’ll be enshrined perpetually in Sun historical past.
Connecticut is inducting the previous UConn women’s basketball great into its Sun Legends on Tuesday, forward of its recreation in opposition to the Chicago Sky at Mohegan Sun Arena (at 7 p.m.) Charles’ No. 31 jersey will take its place inside the sector’s rafters among the many greatest to signify the franchise.
“To be named a Connecticut Sun Legend is one thing I actually by no means imagined, and I’m simply extremely grateful,” Charles mentioned in a launch. “It’s such a full-circle second as a result of every part began for me in Connecticut, and now this chapter ends right here too. When I take into consideration this honor, I take into consideration the individuals who made it potential—my teammates, coaches, the entrance workplace, and particularly the followers who embraced me from day one.
“Connecticut became home, and it helped shape not only the player I became, but the woman I am today. To be remembered this way means more than I can put into words, and I’ll always be thankful for everything Connecticut has given me.”
Charles joins the Sun’s Class of 2026 Sun Legend inductees: Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas, Jasmine Thomas and Curt Miller.
Former Sun head coach Mike Thibault would be the final former member of the franchise to be inducted on Sept. 20 forward of the sport’s remaining assembly with the Minnesota Lynx in Uncasville. Former Sun gamers Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Margo Dydek, Nykesha Sales, Katie Douglas, Lindsay Whalen and Asjha Jones are already inducted.
The Sun drafted Charles No. 1 general in 2010 following her iconic profession at UConn, the place she led the Huskies to back-to-back undefeated nationwide championships.
Charles had one of the vital dominant rookie seasons in Sun historical past, not solely incomes WNBA Rookie of the Year but additionally setting the franchise report (which nonetheless holds at the moment) for many single-season offensive rebounds (129).
In her first stint with the Sun, the previous Husky led Connecticut to the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Last season, her final within the WNBA, she led the Sun with 16.3 factors per recreation.
While sporting a Sun jersey, Charles earned two All-WNBA First Team choices and two All-Star nods. In 2012, her third with the Sun, she was named the league’s MVP after averaging 18.0 factors and 10.5 rebounds per recreation.
The former Sun star nonetheless holds the franchise profession information for factors per recreation (17.3), rebounds per recreation (10.8), most points-rebounds double-double (80), and most 20-point, 20-rebound video games (3).
Including Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to the Sky, Connecticut (9-26) has solely 4 dwelling video games remaining in franchise historical past earlier than the staff relocates to Houston this offseason.