After heated moment, Sun's Tina Charles, Sky's Angel Reese show mutual respect

Emily Adams, Hartford Courant on Jun 16, 2025

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UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Connecticut Sun veteran Tina Charles and Chicago Sky phenom Angel Reese had to be separated by multiple teammates and referees after a heated shoving match in Sunday’s game at Mohegan Sun Arena, resulting in double technical fouls for the star forwards.

The scuffle involved all three UConn alumni on the Sun’s roster, beginning when guard Bria Hartley unintentionally grabbed and pulled one of Reese’s braids while fighting for a loose ball. Sun center Olivia Nelson-Ododa tried to step in between them as Reese spun to confront Hartley, and Reese shoved her away, which immediately drew Charles into the fray. It marked the first time Charles was involved in a double technical since 2015.

But after Chicago’s 78-66 win, it was clear there was no lingering tension. Charles pulled Reese into a tight embrace before leaving the court, and both left the exchange grinning.

“The little scuffle that we had, obviously she’s gonna stick up for her teammate, and she was like you know I’ve gotta do that,” Reese said postgame with a smile. “And I was like you know that (expletive) isn’t personal. I was like, I love a vet like you. I love a player like you. Obviously I respect her game, she’s done a lot of great things for this game, and obviously I love guarding her because I can see a lot of the things that I can add to my game.”

Reese recorded the first triple-double of her young WNBA career on Sunday with 11 points, 13 rebounds and a career-high 11 assists plus two blocks and three steals in the Sky’s victory. She is the third-fastest player in league history to post a triple-double stat line in her 44th professional game, behind only superstar guards Caitlin Clark (22 games) and Sabrina Ionescu (six games). She is the first player to record a triple-double against the Sun in a regulation game since Detroit Shock star Deanna Nolan in 2005.

Reese’s production was particularly impressive because she spent most of the game matched up against Charles, a 14-year veteran with eight All-Star selections and a league MVP award on her resume. Charles and the Sun managed to stifle Reese’s typical dominance on the offensive glass, but she adapted to remain one of the most impactful players on the floor. Charles still put up her usual production with 19 points plus six rebounds in Connecticut’s loss, but Reese helped limit her to 8-of-20 shooting from the field and forced Charles’s lone turnover of the game on a first-quarter steal.

“I think she came through the entire game,” Sky coach Tyler Marsh said. “Whether it was defending, whether it was facilitating, whether it was rebounding, whether it was scoring. She was getting to the free-throw line. She created a lot of congestion in the paint where she was able to find shooters. She was just great across the board tonight.”

Reese is perhaps the most prolific rebounder the league has seen since Charles, who currently holds the record for career rebounds with 4,069 and counting. The Sky sophomore surpassed Charles (44 games) as the fastest player to 500 points and 500 rebounds in her 38th game on May 27, and she also took down Charles’ rookie records last season for total rebounds and double-doubles that had stood since 2010. Charles said she doesn’t see many similarities between her game and Reese’s, but she identifies with the 22-year-old star’s constant tenacity on the boards.

“We’re very different players, but I think just that relentless side of her rebounding,” Charles said. “When I was that young, I was very relentless on the boards. I could use my athleticism and my youth to just create shots for myself, and that’s one thing that I do see in Angel.”

Charles has stressed throughout this season that she doesn’t feel there’s anything left to prove in her own career. She knows that retirement isn’t far off at age 36, so Charles is finding fulfillment now in passing down her wisdom the next generation of players — even those who aren’t on her team.

“She’s just that pro’s pro, and being able to get to the cup, get to that right hook, so it’s great having a vet that really wants to talk to you and make sure you want to get better,” Reese said. “When she leaves this game, she wants to leave it in the right way.”