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 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.

Contents

1 Career
2 Personal
3 Vital statistics
4 References
5 External links

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. In the 2003 season, she led the Indiana Fever in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. 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 2000th point in the WNBA. With this she became the player to score 2000 career points in the WNBA the fastest, reaching the milestone in only four seasons of play. In 2005, Catchings was also named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year.

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 knee injury.

Personal

Catchings is the daughter of former NBA player Harvey Catchings. She majored in Sports Management at the University of Tennessee.

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 Chicago), she also led the volleyball team to its only state title as a junior.

Vital statistics

Position: Forward
Height: 6 ft. / 1.82 m
College: University of Tennessee 2001
Team(s): Tennessee Lady Volunteers, Indiana Fever (WNBA), Chicago Blaze (NWBL)

References

External links

[Tamika Catchings's Official Website]
[Tamika Catchings' U.S. Olympic Team bio] ... with notes, quotes and photos

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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 Penicherio \| Diana Taurasi \| Teresa Weatherspoon (Honorable mention)

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