WNBA legend and newly retired center Tina Charles is returning to basketball.
Charles, who spent 15 seasons in the league, including six with the New York Liberty,
has rejoined the team in a new role. On Tuesday, the franchise announced Charles is returning to her alma mater, UConn, to pursue a master's degree in Sports Management. While in school, Charles is taking on an intern role with the Liberty.The team posted a photo of Charles in her old stomping grounds, holding a "first day of school" style sign announcing her internship. Charles, 37, smiles as she presents the sign, which says she loves beer and wants to be Liberty CEO Keia Clarke when "I grow up." Charles told USA TODAY Sports she hopes her degree will give her a baseline for a WNBA
front office role.
“Sometimes when it comes to knowing the time for retirement, your mind is more made up than your heart. But I knew it was time; I didn't need basketball to tell me,” Charles said of retiring and pursuing other interests. “As ironic as it sounds, I knew I had things brewing off the court. I felt that I had fully released and did everything I could in the space of basketball. I was able to see the new generation come in and take it forward.”
Charles played for six WNBA franchises, was an eight-time All-Star, 2012 MVP and the unanimous 2010 Rookie of the Year. She also led the league in rebounds four times (2010-2012, 2016), won two scoring titles (2016, 2021) and earned nine All-WNBA selections plus four All-Defensive team selections. Charles won three gold medals with Team USA Basketball in 2012, 2016 and 2021.
Charles retired as the WNBA leader in career rebounds (4,262) and field goals made (3,364). She finished second in points scored (8,396) behind Diana Taurasi (10,646).
"This game gave me everything, and I'll miss it deeply,"Charles said when she announced her retirement in May. "But my mom always taught me: don't stop at what you've done, keep going toward what you still see. And I still see so much. There are still dreams in my heart waiting to be lived, and I can't wait to share that journey with you all."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tina Charles' post-WNBA plan starts with a classroom and a Liberty internship
