Tina Charles, the most prolific rebounder in WNBA history, announced her retirement from professional basketball Tuesday. The 37-year-old center confirmed the news on her personal social media account, concluding a career spanning 15 years and multiple franchises.

The former first overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft spent her final season in 2025 with the Connecticut Sun, the same organization that drafted her out of UConn. In her farewell campaign, she averaged 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, proving her efficiency remained intact until her final appearance on the court.

Throughout her tenure in the league, the New York native established herself as one of the most dominant post players to ever play the game. She retires as the WNBA’s all-time leader in rebounds and made field goals. She also ranks second in career points with 8,396, trailing only Diana Taurasi. Over 473 career games, she also amassed 4,262 rebounds.

The Sun organization released a statement Tuesday morning expressing gratitude for her impact on the franchise. The team noted that the veteran center would forever be part of the organization's foundation and that her influence would be felt by future players.

The accolades for the veteran center include being named the 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Year and the 2012 WNBA MVP. She was selected as a WNBA All-Star eight times and earned three Olympic gold medals representing Team USA. Beyond her individual statistics, she was a vocal advocate for players, recently participating in collective bargaining agreement negotiations to improve conditions for the next generation of athletes.

In her retirement message, she reflected on the longevity of her career and her ability to persevere through various challenges and external narratives. She noted that through the highs and lows of the professional level, she remained committed to showing up for the game she loved.