The Phoenix Mercury and eight-time WNBA all-star Tina Charles have agreed to a contract divorce, the team announced Saturday.
“After discussions with Tina and her agent, it was best for both parties to go our separate ways at this time,” Mercury general manager Jim Pitman said in a statement.
Pitman acknowledged Phoenix season has not gone the way they planned. Mercury is currently 6-12 on the season.
Charles averaged 17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 16 games this season with Phoenix.
The 2012 WNBA MVP signed with Phoenix this offseason after spending the last two years with the Washington Mystics. She opted out the 2020 season due to medical concerns surrounding COVID-19. Last season she returned with the Mystics and played 27 games, averaging a career-high 23.4 points along with 9.6 rebounds.
But, the Mystics season was a wash as fellow former WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne missed most of the season due to back surgery.
Prior to that she played her first four seasons with the Connecticut Sun and another six seasons with the New York Liberty.
Her signing with Phoenix was a head-scratcher to some. This contract divorce laminates those concerns. It’s unclear what her future holds. But it’s hard to believe she’s done playing. There will be a host of teams lined up to sign her.
As one WNBA fan put on Twitter, the Charles-Della Donne experience never really had a run together. Delle Donne is back healthy this season, but she has had maintenance days off. Washington also has standout rookie Shakira Austin, two-time WNBA champion Alysha Clark and Myisha Hines-Allen already in the frontcourt. But, adding Charles would strengthen their formidable frontcourt.
Another contender who may show Charles interest is the Seattle Storm. Sue Bird is looking for one last run at the WNBA title before retiring. The Storm also features 2018 WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart. Pairing Charles with Stewart would create a just as dynamic frontcourt duo as Charles and Delle Donne.
The WNBA world will be waiting to see Charles’ next move.
