Tina Charles made history in the WNBA by surpassing Sylvia Fowles as the all-time rebounding leader with 4,007 rebounds in her career during a game on Thursday night. Needing only three rebounds before the game, Charles quickly achieved this feat in the first quarter of the Atlanta Dream’s match against the New York Liberty, breaking Fowles’ record with an offensive tap out leading to a basket just 3 minutes and 8 seconds into the game.
The 35-year-old player began her career in Connecticut before being traded to New York in 2014. The Liberty paid tribute to Charles by showing a video at the end of the first quarter, and she acknowledged the crowd with waves and points. Having also played in Washington, Phoenix, and Seattle, Charles joined Atlanta this year after taking a break from the previous season.
Throughout her 14-year career, Charles has maintained an average of 9.3 rebounds and has achieved 193 double-doubles, tying Fowles for the most in WNBA history. A native of New York, Charles was recognized earlier in the game for her induction into the city’s Basketball Hall of Fame alongside nine other former players and coaches, receiving support from her Dream teammates on the court.
Charles is the sole WNBA player to have amassed 7,000 points and 4,000 rebounds in her career, placing her second on the all-time scoring list behind Diana Taurasi.