Tina Charles Signs with Athletes Unlimited: Star Reinforcement for the League

Tina Charles returns to the United States to play in Athletes Unlimited

The prominent basketball player Tina Charles expressed her enthusiasm for competing in the United States during the WNBA offseason, after a decade of playing abroad. Charles has decided to join Athletes Unlimited, the 5-on-5 basketball league that will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, this winter.

Tina Charles, la líder histórica de la WNBA en rebotes y tiros de campo anotados, jugará la temporada baja con Athletes Unlimited, una liga 5 contra 5 con sede en Nashville.

Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

“It was an opportunity to take advantage of the possibility of playing at home,” Charles said in a phone interview. “I heard very positive things from players who participated in AU. And most importantly, the camaraderie, the friendships and the opportunity to make an impact playing in AU fits with my current stage in my career.”
Tina Charles

Charles also highlighted the charitable component of Athletes Unlimited, something that appeals to him. For the past 12 years, he has worked to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest through the Hopey’s Heart Foundation. Charles is close to reaching the goal of donating 500 AEDs (automated external defibrillators).

“Being able to raise awareness, locate AEDs, and keep that conversation going is important,” said Charles.
Tina Charles

Earlier this month, the 36-year-old player received the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award from the WNBA.

“It was very special for me, in memory of my aunt,” said Charles. “The Dawn Staley award means a lot. The first time I received the award, I was helping to build a school in Africa and impacting those children. It’s more about my parents and how they raised me, even though my name is on the award”.
Tina Charles

Charles, an unrestricted free agent and the WNBA’s all-time leader in rebounds and field goals made, will join several WNBA players at Athletes Unlimited.