Tamika Catchings is never satisfied. She is always working, and always looking to add to her illustrious career.
This summer, Catchings will head to London with Team USA to compete in the Olympics and hopefully return with another gold medal.
All well deserved for a tremendous player and even better person.
There is so much that makes her so special. Talent, unselfishness, playing through pain, character … etc. I could go on and on.
An example: late last WNBA season, she suffered an injury to her foot that had to be extremely uncomfortable. But she refused to back down and was determined to be on the court with her team. I served as ‘test dummy’ on the practice court before the game and I couldn’t tell a difference. She is so, very, good.
At 32, this probably will be her last Olympic games. She already has two gold medals from the 2004 and 2008 Olympic games. Regardless, Catchings says it’s still a big deal to be chosen.
“You get to represent your country. When you get to put the U-S-A on, it’s just one of those things that it’s now not just representing you and your family, or your WNBA team, it’s representing every single person who doesn’t have that chance to be at the Olympics and to be a part of that atmosphere. That’s what makes it so special: knowing that every single thing that we do is representing the whole United States of America.”
In order to completely heal from her latest injury and prepare for the Olympics, Catchings opted to not go overseas for the winter. The Indiana Fever open the regular season May 19th at home against Atlanta.
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UConn head coach Geno Auriemma will serve as head coach for the Olympic team, assisted by DePaul University head coach Doug Bruno, Washington Mystics assistant Jennifer Gillom, and Atlanta Dream head coach Marynell Meadors.
The other ten players announced were Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tina Charles, Sylvia Fowles, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Candance Parker, Diana Taurasi, and Lindsay Whalen.
One final spot will be announced later and Brittney Griner, a 6-8 junior center at Baylor, will likely be chosen.