Tamika Catchings
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Tamika Devonne Catchings (born on July 21, 1979 in Stratford, New Jersey) is an American Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) player who plays for the Indiana Fever. She is a prolific scorer close to and far from the basket, as well as a capable rebounder, ball handler and defender. After playing at Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire, IL) and graduating from Duncanville High School, Tamika Catchings became one of the stars of the University of Tennessee women's basketball team. In 2001, she was drafted by the Indiana Fever. After sitting out her rookie year due to injury, she had an all-star rookie season in 2002.
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[edit] Career
An All-American with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers for 1997-2001, Catchings was drafted by the Indiana Fever in 2001. Unable to play her rookie season, she had an outstanding year in 2002 and was named WNBA Rookie of the Year for that year. She has lead Indiana Fever in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in all 5 of her WNBA seasons. Catchings played for the USA Women's Basketball Team at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, helping the team win the gold medal.
In 2005, she scored her 2,000th point in the WNBA. With this she became the fastest player to score 2000 career points in the WNBA, reaching the milestone in only four seasons of play. She is also the fastest to 1,000 rebounds, 400 assists, and 300 steals. In 2005, Catchings was also named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year . Catchings then repeated as Defensive Player of the Year in 2006.
In 2006, she was voted in to the 2006 WNBA All-Star Game, and was also the leading vote-getter, but had to sit out because of a foot injury.
Catchings is a 4-time WNBA All-Star and 5-time All-WNBA and she is also President of the WNBA Players Association.
[edit] Personal
Catchings is the daughter of former NBA player Harvey Catchings. Her sister Tauja also played basketball at Stevenson and the University of Illinois. Tamika majored in Sports Management at the University of Tennessee.
Catchings helped Adlai E. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire, IL) to Illinois' IHSA Div. AA State Championship in her Sophomore year in 1995, before moving to Texas. Her sophomore year at Stevenson she won Illinois Ms. Basketball (which at the time was the youngest player to ever win the award). In addition to leading Duncanville High to the state basketball title in her senior season (she played only two years at Duncanville after moving from the Chicago area), she also led the volleyball team to its only state title as a junior.
Catchings is a leading figure in the Indianapolis community, having started the Catch the Stars Foundation, Inc. [1], which helps disadvantaged youth achieve their dreams. Her official website is catchin24.com[2].
[edit] Vital statistics
- Position: Forward
- Height: 6' 2"
- College: University of Tennessee 2001
- Team(s): Tennessee Lady Volunteers, Indiana Fever (WNBA), Chicago Blaze (NWBL)
[edit] References
- WNBA.com Tamika Catchings Player Info. Retrieved on August 30, 2005.
[edit] External links
- Tamika Catchings's Official Website
- Tamika Catchings' U.S. Olympic Team bio ... with notes, quotes and photos
| Preceded by Jackie Stiles |
WNBA Rookie of the Year 2002 |
Succeeded by Cheryl Ford |
| Preceded by Chamique Holdsclaw |
Naismith College Player of the Year (women's) 2000 |
Succeeded by Ruth Riley |
| Women's National Basketball Association | WNBA's All-Decade Team |
|---|
| Sue Bird | Tamika Catchings | Cynthia Cooper | Yolanda Griffith | Lauren Jackson | Lisa Leslie | Katie Smith | Dawn Staley | Sheryl Swoopes | Tina Thompson
Ruthie Bolton | Chamique Holdsclaw | Ticha Penicheiro | Diana Taurasi | Teresa Weatherspoon (Honorable mention) |
