Atlanta Dream center Tina Charles has moved into the No. 2 spot on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list, surpassing Hall of Famer Tina Thompson. Charles achieved this milestone during the Dream’s 72-63 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday.
Entering the game with 7,479 career points, Charles needed just nine more to pass Thompson’s mark. She scored six points in the first half and secured the record with a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Diana Taurasi remains in the top spot, with a significant lead of nearly 3,000 points over Charles.
In addition to her scoring achievement, Charles recorded 12 points and 17 rebounds in the game. She is currently ranked second in the WNBA all-time rebounding list, behind Sylvia Fowles’ 4,006 career rebounds. Charles, who had 3,859 rebounds before Wednesday’s game, added eight more in the first two quarters against the Mercury.
Charles, a two-time NCAA champion with the UConn Huskies, was selected first overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2010 WNBA Draft. She was named Rookie of the Year in her debut season and earned MVP honors in 2012. An eight-time All-Star, Charles was unanimously chosen for the NYC Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year.
After sitting out the 2023 season, Charles signed with the Atlanta Dream in February. Despite the Dream’s lower standing in the Eastern Conference, her return has been impactful, with an average of 14 points and over eight rebounds per game this season.
Charles reflected on her return to the league, saying, “I thought I was retired… But God had a plan,” in an interview with The Next earlier this season.
