She was the franchise’s first player to earn league MVP honors and remains the franchise leader in career points and rebounds per game.
And now, not even four months since retiring, she’ll be enshrined forever in Sun history.
Connecticut is inducting the former UConn women’s basketball great into its Sun Legends on Tuesday, ahead of its game against the Chicago Sky at Mohegan Sun Arena (at 7 p.m.) Charles’ No. 31 jersey will take its place inside the arena’s rafters among the best to represent the franchise.
“To be named a Connecticut Sun Legend is something I honestly never imagined, and I’m just incredibly grateful,” Charles said in a release. “It’s such a full-circle moment because everything started for me in Connecticut, and now this chapter ends here too. When I think about this honor, I think about the people who made it possible—my teammates, coaches, the front office, and especially the fans 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 will be the last former member of the franchise to be inducted on Sept. 20 ahead of the game’s final meeting with the Minnesota Lynx in Uncasville. Former Sun players Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Margo Dydek, Nykesha Sales, Katie Douglas, Lindsay Whalen and Asjha Jones are already inducted.
The Sun drafted Charles No. 1 overall in 2010 following her iconic career at UConn, where she led the Huskies to back-to-back undefeated national championships.
Charles had one of the most dominant rookie seasons in Sun history, not only earning WNBA Rookie of the Year but also setting the franchise record (which still holds today) for most single-season offensive rebounds (129).
In her first stint with the Sun, the former Husky led Connecticut to the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Last season, her last in the WNBA, she led the Sun with 16.3 points per game.
While wearing a Sun jersey, Charles earned two All-WNBA First Team selections and two All-Star nods. In 2012, her third with the Sun, she was named the league’s MVP after averaging 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
The former Sun star still holds the franchise career records for points per game (17.3), rebounds per game (10.8), most points-rebounds double-double (80), and most 20-point, 20-rebound games (3).
Including Tuesday’s game against the Sky, Connecticut (9-26) has only four home games remaining in franchise history before the team relocates to Houston this offseason.