Tamika Catchings

Basketball

With nothing stopping her, Tamika Catchings has developed a career which has placed her among the elite basketball players in the WNBA. Being the reining 2011 WNBA MVP and a two time gold medalist Catchings is an “all around” defensive player who can do it all. In fact in 2003 she lead the Indiana Fever in five categories which included points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. Upon her rookie season in winning rookie of the year Tamika became the first Fever player to win the award.

The successes that she has had were also evident in college. At University of Tennessee playing under well known coach, Pat Summit, Catchings helped the Lady Vols to a 16-1 record and a no. 2 national ranking in 2001. During her collegiate years she was named a Kodak All American for four consecutive years. She was one of only four women to ever be named four times.

Career Highlights

•  Two-time Olympic gold medalist
• World Champion 
•  2011 WNBA Most Valuable Player 
•  Four-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year 
•  Seven-time WNBA All-Star 
•  Seven-time All-WNBA 
•  2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year 
•  Current WNBA Players Association President

 

Collegiate Career

When Catchings stepped on the campus of University of Tennessee in 1997-1998 she did not miss a step in contributing to the success of the Lady Vols. Tamika’s freshman year the Lady Vols had an undefeated season and coach Pat Summit won her sixth national title. Catching is ranked as the sixth all- time leading scorer in Lady Vols history with 16.6 points per game. Tamika was also named a Kodak All American recipient for four consecutive seasons. She is one of the only four women to ever be named four times.

Along with all her collegiate achievements Catchings graduated with honors a semester ahead of her class with a degree in Sports Management. She was also a 2001 academic All SEC Honoree. In her final undergraduate semester at University of Tennessee she earned a perfect 4.0 GPA. Lastly in May 2005 Tamika went on to earn her Masters degree.

Awards

Tamika Catchings is the reigning 2011 MVP of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and will enter her 11th season as a forward for the Indiana Fever in 2012. Catchings was drafted by Indiana in the 2001 WNBA Draft (3rd overall) and won the 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year award. Catchings is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2004 and 2008), three-time FIBA World Championship medalist, seven-time WNBA All-Star, and four-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Catchings is one of the country’s most highly-regarded citizen-athletes and was named a finalist for the 2006 Wooden Citizenship Cup, presented annually to the nation’s top professional athlete who exhibits outstanding community service. In 2004, Catchings created the Catch the Stars Foundation to empower youth through literacy, fitness and mentoring.

Educational and Charity Work

Off the court Tamika is an active member in the community. Enjoying working alongside children especially under privileged youth she has opened the Catch for the Stars Foundation. The Catch for the Stars Foundation serves 1,500 youth from central Indiana; Tamika is heavily immersed with the foundation’s programs. Tamika uses her positive image to bring upon inspiration to not only the young children in her foundation but beyond.

Being that Catchings is involved on a one- on- one basis with the youth; the foundation provides initiatives that prove to be valuable. Catch the Stars Foundation offers programs such as free basketball clinics and camps. The camp teaches the disadvantage youths the importance of nutrition and health along ball handling skills. Academic success is also promoted which has a scholarship program that involves tutoring, mentoring, a giveaway of backpacks and school supplies. Along with running the Catch the Stars Foundation Tamika is also a member of the Women’s Sports Foundation Board of Trustees and is the current president of the WNBA Players Association.