This Saturday night, Lady Vols legend Tamika Catchings will receive her induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Catchings with the Class of 2020, along with the Class of 2021, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a presentation at the Tennessee Theater.
Catchings played under head coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee from 1997-2001. During the 1998 season, Catchings, Summitt, and the Lady Volunteers won the Women’s Basketball National Championship.
“Basketball is a big reason for who I am today and why I am the way that I am,” Catchings told Legends Magazine in August.
After her Tennessee career, Catchings went on to have a WNBA career that was nothing short of historic. The former Lady Vol spent all 15 of her seasons with the Indiana Fever. In total, there are almost too many WNBA awards, recognitions, and honors to list. But the highlights from her career have been WNBA Rookie of the Year (2002), 10 WNBA All-Star selections, WNBA MVP (2011), WNBA Finals MVP (2012), and WNBA Champion (2012). In addition, Catchings is a four-time gold medalist with Team USA in the Olympics (’04, ’08, ’12, ’16).
But during her whole career, Catchings has made an impact off the court equal to her impact on the court. And, that’s partly shown as she currently serves as the Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager of the Indiana Fever.
In 2004, Catchings founded the Catch the Stars Foundation. The organization sets out to help underprivileged youth find community through basketball camps. The foundation also has built literacy and educational programs, launched community service projects, mentorship programs, and more.
Tamika Catchings, a Tennessee Lady Vols legend and six-time All-WNBA team selection, first found her passion for basketball through her family. Catchings father, Harvey Catchings, played in the NBA for 11 years. He played for the 76ers, the Nets, the Bucks, and the Clippers.
Catchings was one of the main stars of the 2020 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Induction. However, the ceremony had to be postponed by a year due to the pandemic. The Pro Football Hall of Fame recently completed their two-class ceremony and had no significant issues.
Catchings’s 2020 Hall of Fame class also includes “Debbie Brock (Veteran Player), Carol Callan (Contributor), Swin Cash (Player), Sue Donohoe (Contributor), Lauren Jackson (International Player) and Carol Stiff (Contributor).”
This Saturday night in Knoxville, TN, Lady Vols legend Tamika Catchings will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
