Tina Charles' No. 31 to Hang in Sun Rafters

Tina Charles' No. 31 jersey will be permanently enshrined in the Connecticut Sun's rafters, celebrating her induction as a Sun Legend. The ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, ahead of the Sun's matchup with the Chicago Sky at Mohegan Sun Arena. This honor recognizes Charles as the franchise's first MVP and its all-time leader in career points and rebounds per game. Charles expressed deep gratitude, calling it a full-circle moment as her career began and ended with the Sun. She joins other notable inductees like Jonquel Jones and Alyssa Thomas. The Sun drafted Charles first overall in 2010 after her stellar college career at UConn. She achieved one of the most dominant rookie seasons in Sun history, earning WNBA Rookie of the Year and setting a franchise record for offensive rebounds. During her tenure, Charles led the Sun to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2012 and earned two All-WNBA First Team selections and two All-Star nods. Her MVP season in 2012 saw her average 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. She continues to hold franchise career records for points per game (17.3) and rebounds per game (10.8). This event occurs as the Connecticut Sun prepares for their relocation to Houston after the current season, with only four remaining home games.