Humble Beginnings
Tamika Catchings grew up in suburban Chicago. She used a hearing aid, but in the 1980s, hearing aids were so bulky that it was challenging to communicate with friends. She was teased and wanted to be like everyone else. She often wanted to quit school, but her mother always brought her back and said she would not let Tamika up. When she began to play sports, everything changed. She became more famous than her peers, she played better, and the same kids who teased her began to choose her as team captain (Golliver).
WNBA Career
Catchings finished third overall with the Indiana Fever in 2001. She could not play in the 2001 season due to an injury sustained during her senior year in Tennessee, so she had an outstanding year in 2002 and was named WNBA Rookie of the Year with 18.6 average points per game, making an immediate impact on the Fever line-up in her first year of professional career. During her rookie regular-season game against the Minnesota Lynx, Catchings tied a then-WNBA record of 9 steals (which has since been broken by Ticha Penicheiro). The Fever made the playoffs that year, and despite losing 2–1 in the first round, Catchings had a dominant streak, averaging 20.3 points per game during their playoff career.
Foreign career
Catchings played her first year overseas during the WNBA off-season. In 2003, she played in South Korea for Asan Woori Bank Wibee. In the 2005–06 off-season, Catchings played for Spartak in the Russian Championship. Catchings played again in South Korea for Chuncheon Woori Bank Hansae during the 2006 and 2007 off-seasons. During the 2008–2009 off-season, Catchings played in Poland for Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia and played two consecutive off-seasons in the Turkish League from 2009–2011 for Galatasaray. In Catchings’ first season with Galatasaray, she played with then-Indiana Fever teammate Cathy Douglas.
Life after basketball
In January 2017, it was announced that Catchings would be serving as the game analyst for the women’s basketball games on the SEC network. In February 2017, Catchings purchased Tea’s Me Cafe from the previous owners in North Indianapolis, which she frequented while playing Indiana Fever. In April 2017, Catchings was named Director of Player Programs and Franchise Development for Pacers Sports & Entertainment. The Catchings competed in the Baltimore season 11 qualifying round of American Ninja Warrior. The episode aired on NBC on July 1, 2019. Catchings is currently Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager of the Indiana Fever.
Personal life and remarkable achievements
Catchings is the daughter of former NBA player Harvey Catchings. Her sister Tauya also played basketball. In February 2016, Catchings married Parnell Smith, a former University at Buffalo basketball player. The couple first met in July 2014 through a mutual friend. Catchings is the author of the first recorded quintuple-double (among men and women). She scored 10 or more points in five statistical indicators. It happened when Tamika played at the US school championship in 1997 – the young basketball player scored 25 points and made 18 rebounds, 11 assists, 10 interceptions, and 10 blocks.
Philanthropy and activism
In 2004, Catchings founded the charity Catch the Stars Foundation, which provides basketball camps, fitness centers, mentoring, and literacy programs for underprivileged children to help them succeed in sports and academics. Catchings speaks out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and against police brutality and gun violence. During one game, she and her teammates and members of two other teams were fined for wearing warm-up t-shirts that read #BlackLivesMatter in connection with violence from and against police officers. Catchings believed that playing basketball was important for many reasons (Borders 123). It is the unification of people and respect for each person’s rights, regardless of the circumstances and subjective judgments.
Works Cited
Borders, Lisa. “Inspiring and Empowering Women: The WNBA Leading the Way into the 21st Century”. Journal Of Legal Aspects Of Sport, vol. 28, no. 2, 2018, pp. 121-125, Web.
Golliver, Ben. “Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame.” The Washington Post, 2020.