Dream’s Tina Charles sets marks for rebounds, double-doubles

NEW YORK — Tina Charles broke two career records Thursday night, passing Sylvia Fowles to become the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder with 4,007 and later passing Fowles with her 194th career double-double.

Charles needed three rebounds entering the game and got them quickly in the first quarter of the Atlanta Dream’s game against the New York Liberty. She broke Fowles’ mark on an offensive tap out that eventually led to a basket 3:52 into the game.

Charles completed her record-breaking double-double when she grabbed her 10th rebound of the night with 5:04 left in the third quarter.

She sat out the fourth quarter and finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the Dream’s 78-67 win.

Charles, 35, got her start in Connecticut before being traded to New York before the 2014 season. The Liberty honored Charles at the end of the first quarter with a video tribute. She waved and pointed to the crowd.

Charles also played in Washington, Phoenix and Seattle before signing with Atlanta this year after sitting out last season.

Charles has averaged 9.3 rebounds during her 14-year career. 

A New York native, Charles was honored before the game as she was inducted into the city’s Basketball Hall of Fame along with nine other former players and coaches. Her Dream teammates were on the court cheering her on as she was announced.

Charles is the only WNBA player with 7,000 points and 4,000 rebounds in her career. She’s second on the career scoring list behind only Diana Taurasi.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.