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There appears to be no love lost between Tina Charles and her former Phoenix Mercury teammate Sophie Cunningham.

Hours after Charles and the Mercury agreed to an immediate mid-season “contract divorce” on Saturday, Phoenix rallied to beat Dallas, 83-72, in their first game without the former league MVP — and Cunningham reportedly celebrated the win by yelling “F–k Tina Charles!”

Cameras captured Cunningham yelling to her teammates on the bench at College Park Center, which appeared to include the sharpshooter’s reported lewd remark.

The Mercury’s first victory without the All-WNBA center came hours after ESPN reported that Charles plans to join conference rival, the Seattle Storm.


  Sophie Cunningham embraces Tina Charles during a game against the Storm on May 11. NBAE via Getty Images Sophie Cunningham embraces Tina Charles during a game against the Storm on May 11. NBAE via Getty Images

Charles is reportedly expected to sign a deal to complete the 2022 season with Seattle alongside Sue Bird in her last season in pursuit of a title. Once she clears waivers, Charles can become an unrestricted free agent and sign with a team.

Mercury general manager Jim Pitman called the move “best for both parties,” in a statement Saturday. According to ESPN, Charles was unhappy with her role in the offense and desired more shot attempts and a bigger role in the absence of Brittney Griner — who’s been detained in Russia since February after the Russian Federal Customs Service claimed it found hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow.

Charles played 16 games for Phoenix before her departure, and averaged 17.3 points per game on 14.8 shots per game this season — her second-lowest average since 2015.

Charles averaged 23.4 points on nearly 20 shots per game with the Mystics last season.  

The 33-year-old Charles signed with the Mercury this past offseason after they lost to the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Finals.

Without Charles and Griner — whose detainment in Russia was extended at least six more months in a court hearing on Monday — the Mercury could miss the playoffs for the first time in a decade. 

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