A Final Toast to a Legendary Career
Former UConn women's basketball standout and WNBA MVP Tina Charles has turned her passion for craft brewing into a celebratory new release, Sunset Hazy IPA, which will be unveiled at the Mohegan Sun Arena during the Connecticut Sun's game against the Chicago Sky on August 25, 2026.
The beer, a bright, citrus‑forward brew infused with Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe hops, clocks in at 6.5% alcohol by volume and is packaged in cans that echo the Sun's signature orange and yellow color scheme, turning each can into a miniature tribute to the franchise.
Charles says the Sunset IPA is more than a beverage; it is a homage to the players, coaches and fans who helped define her four‑year tenure with the Sun, a period that culminated in her induction into the Sun Legends and the retirement of her jersey.
The launch arrives at a pivotal moment for the Sun, whose 2026 campaign is the franchise's last before the organization relocates to Houston, making Charles' retirement announcement on May 5, 2026, a poignant bookend to a 14‑season WNBA career.
The new brew follows her debut offering, '78‑0,' a nod to the back‑to‑back undefeated national championships the Huskies captured during her junior and senior years at UConn, linking her collegiate glory to her professional milestones.
Beyond the beer, Charles' story reflects a broader narrative of athletes who leverage their platform to create lasting cultural artifacts, and her Sunset IPA stands as a flavorful chapter in a career that blended dominance on the court with entrepreneurship off it.