Overview
- Charles announced her retirement Tuesday on social media, calling the decision an effort to “edit” her life and saying she felt at peace with the choice.
- She departs as the WNBA’s all-time leader in rebounds with 4,262 and field goals with 3,364, and she ranks second in career points with 8,396.
- Her résumé includes the 2010 No. 1 draft slot, 2010 Rookie of the Year, 2012 MVP, nine All-WNBA nods, eight All-Star selections, and three Olympic gold medals.
- After returning to the Connecticut Sun in 2025, she led the team with 16.3 points per game but never reached the WNBA Finals or won a league title.
- WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert and former teams praised her excellence and community leadership, while her Hopey’s Heart Foundation has placed 500-plus AEDs in schools and public spaces and she is pursuing a sports management master’s degree at UConn with interest in front-office roles.