Throughout the duration of the Connecticut Sun’s so-called “Sunset Season” before rising anew as the Houston Comets in 2027, the organization honored its legends — the players and coaches who helped shape the franchise during its 24-year run in Connecticut. Two of those legends, Mike Thibault, who coached the team from 2003-2012, and Tina Charles, the franchise player from 2010-2013, now share a spot in the rafters of Mohegan Sun Arena. Throughout the course of their careers, however, they’ve shared far more — wins, losses, laughs, and a whole lot of memories on and off the court.
During his induction ceremony into the Sun Legends program, Coach Thibault shared one of his early memories of Tina during her time as a Connecticut Husky.
“I went to see a [UConn] game. I don't remember where it was — maybe it was Holy Cross or somewhere, and somebody asked me why I was going to watch Tina Charles play,” Thibault said. “I already knew I was probably going to draft her…And what I said was, I wanted to see her and how she was on the bench in the second half when they were up thirty. And she was up with the most cheering of anybody on their team, and that's what a winning basketball player looks like.”
When the Sun selected Tina No. 1 overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft following back-to-back undefeated seasons at UConn, that winning mentality immediately translated into success in the league. In her Rookie of the Year first season, she set a league record with 22 double-doubles and a new mark for total rebounds in a year with 398. She also set a rookie record with 23 rebounds in a game, and recorded 10 or more rebounds 23 times.
“Tina, in particular, came in at a crucial period for this organization,” Thibault said of Charles’ first season in Connecticut. “We had gotten older. We made the decision as an organization to rebuild…So bringing in Tina, she was kind of the new foundation for the team.”
Tina continued her ascent on the court, eventually earning WNBA MVP honors and winning an Olympic gold medal in 2012. When she reflects on her time in Connecticut with Coach Thibault, though, it's the off-the-court influence that sticks out to her most.
“What makes Coach T special as a coach is that he's a player's coach,” Charles told reporters. “He definitely understands you. He just doesn't want what you could give him on the court, but he wants to make sure he's impacting you off the court for the woman that you will become.”
“My foundation, Hopey’s Heart Foundation, does not start without his support and him encouraging me and saying, ‘Tina, you have to have balance.’ The school that I built in Mali, Africa, does not happen without his support financially as well. He was just really dialed in to the person, and that's exactly what you wanted. That's who you want to play for. That's who you want to run through a wall for. So he's definitely one of my top three coaches that I've ever played for, and just really taught me professionalism.”
Thibault was willing to be human and honest with his players, creating a culture of authenticity and transparency that allowed him to get the absolute best of them as athletes and people. He ensured that his team “had a laugh” every day and built a family atmosphere that translated to tremendous on-court results. Over his time in Connecticut, he compiled a 206–134 record across 340 games and set the foundation of success that was sustained in Uncasville for nearly a quarter century.
“That was one of the things that I learned before I ever got here as a coach was players want authenticity. They can smell a fraud better than almost anybody…I've been honest with players about what we needed, what they needed, what I needed, and they could come and talk to me too,” Thibault said. “And I think that there were days that Tina was mad about something. She had no problem coming and telling me that. And so I think if you have that with enough of your best players, then it spreads throughout your organization.”
With their WNBA accomplishments behind them, and the Sun’s chapter in WNBA history about to close, both legends now have perspective on their careers that is so much bigger than basketball.
“Success is what you accomplish, and significance is just what you leave behind,” Charles told reporters when reflecting on her playing career. “For me, I'm just trying to make sure that I'm going from success to significance — that's that's more important. You know, there's going to be other women that's going to retire, and what does that look like for them? What are the emotions and all those things? So I just hope I'm leaving just a great example.”
The example she set as a person and professional athlete was no doubt shaped by her time in Connecticut with Coach Thibault, who now gets to look back at his time in the league with a similar sense of humility and gratitude.
“Basketball is what we do,” Thibault said. “It's a hobby that we get paid for. It was a kid's game when we picked up the ball, but it is now becoming even more and more a way to make a living, and you know — I think that as a coach or a general manager, [it’s about] helping them see the bigger picture.”
Photo by Diana Alushaj