Senate Resolution No. 2097

BY: Senator COMRIE

CONGRATULATING Tina Charles upon the occasion of
her retirement from professional basketball and
recognizing her extraordinary contributions to the
people of the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor those distinguished individuals whose exceptional achievements,
leadership, and service have brought pride and distinction to the State
of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body pauses to congratulate
Tina Charles upon the occasion of her retirement from professional
basketball in 2026, after a legendary career marked by athletic
excellence, humanitarian leadership, and steadfast service to her
community; and

WHEREAS, Tina Charles is one of the most accomplished and
influential athletes in the history of women's basketball and a proud
native New Yorker whose career has brought distinction to the State of
New York, the City of New York, and the Borough of Queens; and

WHEREAS, Born on December 5, 1988, in Jamaica, Queens, Tina Charles
emerged as a basketball prodigy at Christ the King High School, where
she became one of the most highly recruited players in the Nation; her
remarkable talent, leadership, and dedication to excellence quickly
established her as a generational athlete and role model for young
people across New York State; and

WHEREAS, Tina Charles continued her academic and athletic career at
University of Connecticut, where she helped lead the Huskies women's
basketball program to two undefeated NCAA National Championships in 2009
and 2010; during her collegiate career, she earned numerous national
honors, including the Naismith College Player of the Year Award and the
John R. Wooden Award, cementing her place among the greatest players in
collegiate basketball history; and

WHEREAS, Following her historic collegiate career, Tina Charles was
selected first overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun;
and

WHEREAS, Over the course of a distinguished professional career
spanning more than a decade, Tina Charles became one of the most
dominant players in the history of the Women's National Basketball
Association, earning league honors including WNBA Rookie of the Year in
2010, WNBA Most Valuable Player in 2012, multiple All-WNBA selections,
and numerous WNBA All-Star appearances; and

WHEREAS, Tina Charles concluded her career as the WNBA's all-time
leading rebounder and one of the league's all-time leading scorers,
achievements which place her among the greatest athletes ever to compete
in professional basketball; and

WHEREAS, For many New Yorkers, Tina Charles is most closely
associated with her years starring for the New York Liberty, where she
became the face of professional women's basketball in New York City; her
leadership on the court helped elevate the Liberty franchise and
inspired a new generation of girls and young athletes throughout the
five boroughs and beyond; and

WHEREAS, Tina Charles consistently represented New York with pride,
professionalism, and excellence, serving as both a sports icon and
community ambassador; and

WHEREAS, Internationally, Tina Charles represented the United States
Women's National Basketball Team with extraordinary distinction, winning
three Olympic gold medals and multiple FIBA World Championship titles,
thereby helping maintain the Nation's longstanding dominance in
international women's basketball and bringing pride to Americans and New
Yorkers alike; and

WHEREAS, Beyond basketball, Tina Charles has distinguished herself
through extraordinary humanitarian and charitable efforts; in 2013, she
founded the Hopey's Heart Foundation in memory of her late aunt, Maureen
"Hopey" Vaz, to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and provide
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), CPR education, and health
resources to schools and communities; and

WHEREAS, Through the Hopey's Heart Foundation, hundreds of AED
devices have been distributed nationwide, including throughout New York
City communities, helping save lives and expand access to emergency
health resources; and

WHEREAS, Tina Charles also donated substantial portions of her
professional salary to charitable causes and funded educational and
community initiatives both domestically and internationally; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of her extraordinary community service and
advocacy, Tina Charles received the WNBA Dawn Staley Community
Leadership Award on multiple occasions; her work has focused not only on
public health and youth empowerment, but also on social justice, civic
engagement, and expanding opportunities for underserved communities; and

WHEREAS, In 2026, Tina Charles announced her retirement from
professional basketball, concluding a legendary career defined by
excellence, perseverance, integrity, and service; and

WHEREAS, Tina Charles' impact extends far beyond statistics and
championships; she has become a trailblazer for women's sports, an
inspiration to countless young athletes, and a proud representative of
Queens and New York State on the global stage; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor and recognize Tina Charles for her extraordinary athletic
achievements, her steadfast commitment to community service, and her
enduring contributions to the people of the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Tina Charles as a token of the esteem and gratitude in
which she is held by the people and the State of New York.