"She's definitely the GOAT": Tina Charles bows to Diana Taurasi as duo celebrate securing 1-2 in WNBA's all-time scoring leaderboard

Tina Charles and Diana Taurasi were arguably the biggest stars in the game between the Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury. The two former MVPs squared off for a rematch on Wednesday after Phoenix won 88-85 in its home debut in May. Charles got some payback on the Dream’s home court.

Behind Charles, Allisha Gray, and Rhyne Howard, Atlanta defended its home court. The Dream roared to a 19-6 first quarter before finishing the Mercury with a 24-15 sprint in the final period to emerge with a 72-63 victory.

The game had to be extra special for Tina Charles whose 12th point gave her 7,491 career points. She moved past Tina Thompson for second in the all-time scoring list. Only Diana Taurasi with 10,500 points is ahead of Charles in the pecking order.

After the game, Charles had this to say about her historic night (via Diamond Dog):

"Just to hear my name in the same sentence as Diana [Taurasi] is just unimaginable. Just what she's meant to me personally, this league - her impact. She's definitely the GOAT. I'm just thankful. A lot of gratitude."

Charles would undeniably be closer to Taurasi had the 2012 MVP not missed two seasons. She sat out in 2020 for medical reasons and thought she was done with basketball last year. The eight-time All-Star has proven in 2024 that she still belongs in the biggest women’s basketball league in the world.

Diana Taurasi played every bit like her 42-year-old self against the Atlanta Dream. She finished the game with three points and four assists. Her all-time scoring record, though, is likely out of Charles’ reach.

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Tina Charles and Diana Taurasi will meet twice more this season

After Wednesday’s showdown, Tina Charles and Diana Taurasi will face each other again on Friday and a fourth and final meeting on Sept. 3. Taurasi will be looking to put on a much better performance on Friday.

The two veterans are expected to be available in the next meeting between the Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury. Atlanta’s win, their third straight victory, improved its record to 10-17. Charles and Co. are just 1.5 games behind the Chicago Sky (11-16) for the eighth and final playoff spot.

The Mercury hope to lock down a postseason spot despite the loss to the Dream. They hold a 15-14 record for sixth in the standings. With still about 10 games left to play, Phoenix looks to return to the playoffs after missing it last year.

With the jostling for playoff spots in full blast, Tina Charles and Diana Taurasi will play key roles for their respective teams.