Tina Charles has returned to the Connecticut Sun as the team undergoes a rebuilding phase. The WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder embraced the opportunity to come full circle with the franchise that selected her as the No. 1 pick in 2010.
The Sun have had a tough start this season, losing six of their first seven games, including a franchise-worst 48-point defeat against New York.
Charles acknowledged the challenges, saying, “I expected this outcome. With new players, a new coach, and a new system, I knew it would be a difficult period for both the team and the coach. However, we had a constructive discussion and agreed that the approach we’re taking is necessary.”
It’s no surprise the Sun are struggling, having lost all five starters from last season’s team, which had reached at least the playoff semifinals for six straight years. No WNBA team has undergone such a drastic transformation from one season to the next as Connecticut has.
Veteran players Charles and Marina Mabry are working to help the team find its new identity. First-year coach Rachid Meziane expressed the need for patience, stating after the loss to New York, “This is a new chapter for us, and we’re not finished yet. We must accept that bad days happen, but we need to correct and minimize our mistakes.”
The Sun’s offense has been a major issue, averaging just 21.7 points per game— the lowest in the league.
Despite the struggles, Charles is committed to mentoring younger players like Olivia Nelson Doda and Ane Moreau, the seventh pick in this year’s draft. She said, “I get to start fresh with an organization that believed in me from the start. My goal is to influence these players not only on the court but also as individuals off the court. I especially want to guide Olivia and help shape her future.”
The team’s long-term outlook remains uncertain, as the Mohegan tribe, the Sun’s owners, are exploring the possibility of selling the franchise. They have enlisted an investment bank to evaluate options, which could include relocating the team. Boston is considered a potential new home, having hosted a sold-out regular-season game last year and with the Sun scheduled to play Boston and Indiana Fever there in July.
A Boston group, including former NBA player Michael Carter-Williams, who is interested in building a franchise in Massachusetts, declined to comment when asked about purchasing the Sun.
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Fan Take: This news is significant for WNBA fans because it highlights the challenges and realities of team rebuilding, especially for a franchise with a strong winning tradition like the Sun. The potential relocation of the team underscores the growing business aspects of the league and could open new opportunities for expanding the WNBA’s footprint in markets like Boston, enhancing the sport’s visibility and growth.
