UConn women’s basketball great Tina Charles has signed with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball for the 2026 season.
The season will be held Feb. 4-28, 2026, at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release.
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“I’m excited to join Athletes Unlimited and be part of a league that’s changing the game for women’s sports,” Charles said in the release. “Competing alongside some of the best players while contributing to a player-driven model is something I deeply believe in. I’m ready to bring my passion and experience to AU.”
Charles was recently recognized with the WNBA’s 2025 Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. Charles is an eight-time WNBA All-Star and three-time Olympic Gold medalist. She is the WNBA’s all-time leader in rebounds and field goals. Charles is the second-leading scorer in WNBA history. She was the 2012 WNBA MVP and is a four-time, All-WNBA First Team selection.
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“Adding someone of Tina’s caliber to the AU Pro Basketball family is huge for us, and further evidence of the stellar roster of competitors we are building for AU Pro Basketball,” Megan Perry, vice president of Basketball for Athletes Unlimited, said in the release. “She brings championship pedigree, star power, and leadership, and is among the most respected players within the basketball community. We believe her presence will elevate competition, mentor rising players, and give fans yet another reason to be thrilled when the season tips off next February.”
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There is $500,000 in prize bonuses at stake, and the rules are created by the players themselves. Some of the other returning player names will be familiar to UConn fans: Kaitlyn Chen, Kia Nurse and Kiah Stokes.
AU Pro Basketball is part of Athletes Unlimited, and it became the first winter professional women’s basketball league to launch in the United States, doing so in 2022. It’s the only way to play five-on-five pro basketball in the U.S. outside of the WNBA.
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