Tina Charles Embraces Mentorship Role in Athletes Unlimited Hoops

Why Charles Joining AU Hoops Is a Win for Women’s Basketball

Tina Charles is one of the best players in basketball history. Tomorrow, the future Hall of Famer embarks on a new chapter of her playing career.

The 2012 WNBA Most Valuable Player, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and the league's all-time leading rebounder, Charles has excelled just about everywhere she’s been.

From averaging nearly 17 points per game in her 14th season to mentoring her young teammates, Charles is a presence on and off the court. This month, she continues her hoops journey as a member of Team Glow in the fifth season of Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball.

Charles is among 40 hoopers competing in the five-week league, each earning individual standings points through the innovative AU Basketball five-on-five league.

Charles watched veteran players like Natasha Cloud, Kiah Stokes, Allisha Gray, and Elizabeth Williams thrive in the AU, which made her want to join. The player-driven approach also spoke to her and intrigued her.

“The type of format that AU poses and just how it makes it always competitive, and players are always engaged because of that format, that it’s player-driven,” Charles said in a September interview with Siera Jones. “I think that’s really neat, you know, something that I’ve never been a part of, nor have I seen on men’s or women’s side,” she added.

As one of the most experienced players in basketball, the New Yorker and UnConn alumnahas taken on a mentoring role following her brief 2024 retirement. At AU Pro Basketball, she’ll have a chance to help guide the next generation of stars toward a bright and exciting future.

“I know I’ll be one of the oldest players there. So how can I help these players have fruitful careers like I’ve had? Help them see the game differently, help them either way, on the court or off the court, with the way I approach things?”

As the league prepares to tip off on February 4 in Nashville, Charles’s presence will allow the upstart league to take another big step toward becoming a go-to destination for players who want to compete in the WNBA off-season while remaining in the United States market.

It’s an exciting time for women’s basketball around the world, and vets like Charles will continue to help the sport advance into an exciting new future.