Tamika Catchings

Tamika Devonne Catchings was born on July 21, 1979 in Stratford, New Jersey to Harvey and Wanda Catchings.

She has a sister, Tauja, who also played basketball. (Tauja currently plays professionally in Sweden) and a brother.

Tamika has a hearing disability.

High School

Tamika attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, and led them to Illinois' IHSA Division AA State Championship in 1995 under head coach Frank Mattucci.

Her family then moved to Texaas, where she graduated from Duncanville High School. She led that team to a state basketball title as well.

University

Tamika majored in Sports Management at the University of Tennessee and played basketball for the Lady Vols under coach Pat Summitt, from 1998-2001.

In 1997-1998, Tamika joined Chamique Holdsclaw as the second member of the Lady Vols to be honored as a Kodak All-American as a freshman. She was also rewarded for her great play with spots on the All-Tournament, All-SEC and All-Freshman Teams as well as numerous other accolades. Tamika started in 37 of 39 games, she scored double figures 36 times, grabbed double-digit rebounds nine times and recorded nine double-doubles, and helped lead the Lady Vols to their second national NCAA championship (the Lady Vols had won their first in 1986.)

In her Sophomore year, (1998-1998), Tamkia was named to the Kodak All-America Team for the second time. She was also named to The Associated Press All-America Team, as well as Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News and Women's Basketball Journal All-America Teams, and numerous other accolades.

For her junior year, (1999-2000) Tamika was a consensus All-American and received the Naismith National Player of the Year Award. She also helped the the Lady Vols to the NCAA Championship game for the second time in her four college seasons. Tamika led her team in scoring, rebounding and steals, as well as minutes.

In her senior year (2000-2001), Tamika led the Lady Vols team in scoring and rebounding through the first 17 games of that season. Her season ended with that game when she tore her right ACL.

Tamika graduated with honors a semester ahead of her class with a bachelor's degree in sport management. Indeed, she was a 2001 Academic All-SEC honoree, and earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during her final undergraduate semester.

WNBA

In 2001, Tamika was drafted by the Indiana Fever despite the fact that she was rehabbing her torn ACL. She made her debut in 2002 and won Rookie of the Year honors.

In 2005, Tameka scored her 2,000th point in the WNBA, becoming the fastest player to reach that milestone, after just four seasons. She is also the fastest to 1,000 rebounds, 400 assists, and 300 steals. Tameka was also named the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2005, and repeated 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. At half-time she was announced as a member of the All-Decade Team along with 9 other players and former Comets coach Van Chancellor.

Catchings is a 5-time WNBA All-Star and 5-time All-WNBA selection. She is also President of the WNBA Players Association.

She missed 13 regular-season games in 2007 with a left foot injury. She returned, but injured her Achilles' tendon during in the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit, and has been rehabbing ever since. The Fever hope she'll be ready to play late in June, 2008.)

Edit text