In the realm of the WNBA, Atlanta Dream's Tina Charles advances to the second spot on the league's record-breaking scoring chart.
In the team's match against the Phoenix Mercury, the 35-year-old athlete was initially 10 points shy of surpassing Tina Thompson's career point record of 7,488. The team emerged victorious with a score of 72-63, and the player ended the game with a score of 12 points, bringing her total to 7,491 points.
During the fourth quarter, with her points count at nine, she successfully made a three-pointer, earning applause from the packed Gateway Center Arena @ College Park audience. Following a game pause, her teammates gathered around her in celebration, with the audience continuing to cheer.
Now, she only trails Diana Taurasi, a Mercury star, on the WNBA's all-time scoring list. Taurasi, who was still on the court, approached Charles with a smile and gave her a warm embrace.
Last season, at 42, Taurasi became the first player to surpass 10,000 points in league history.
Post-game, Charles highlighted her joy at celebrating this achievement with her teammates and her gratitude for doing so alongside "GOAT" Taurasi, whose personal significance and league impact she mentioned.
"Just to hear my name alongside Diana (Taurasi) is simply unthinkable," Charles shared. "Her significance to me, this league, her influence - she's undoubtedly the GOAT. I'm just filled with gratitude. I'm just filled with gratitude."
A two-time NCAA champion with the University of Connecticut, Charles was selected as the first overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun. She clinched the 2010 Rookie of the Year award and went on to be named the 2012 Most Valuable Player.
Charles is also a triple Olympic gold medalist with Team USA.
Her achievements have spanned the Mercury, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics, and Seattle Storm teams. She took a break for the 2023 WNBA season prior to joining Atlanta earlier this year.
In her discussion with the media after the game, Elizabeth Charles expressed her admiration for Diana Taurasi, who is the only player ahead of her on the WNBA's all-time scoring list in the field of ['sport']. With her recent performance, Charles is now one of the most accomplished athletes in women's basketball, having surpassed Tina Thompson's record and now targeting to overtake Diana Taurasi in the near future.
