Tamika Catchings in Saturday’s Shooting Stars event

Tamika Catchings is the lone representative of the Indiana Pacers and Fever at All-Star Weekend, going on now in New York. As first reported here on VigilantSports.com, Catchings will be participating in the Dove Shooting Stars challenge, the first of four events Saturday night.

Catchings is one of four WNBA players to take part in the event, which pairs together an NBA legend with a current NBA and WNBA star. Teams of three are up against the clock to hit from the designated spots on the court as a group and then connecting on a shot from mid-court.

Team Bosh: Chris Bosh (Miami), Swin Cash (New York), Dominique Wilkins
Team Curry: Stephen Curry (Golden State), Sue Bird (Seattle), Dell Curry (Legend)
Team Millsap: Paul Millsap (Atlanta, and replacing injured Anthony Davis), Elena Delle Donne (Chicago), Scottie Pippen
Team Westbrook: Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City), Tamika Catchings (Indiana), Penny Hardaway

All-Star Saturday night festivities begin at 8:30 p.m. ET at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn — Sunday’s All-Star game will be at Madison Square Garden — and can be seen on TNT. New York City will be hosting its sixth All-Star game, and be covered by more than 1,800 media members.

Annually, Catchings is an active participant at All-Star weekend, helping with clinics, playing in the Celebrity Game, and then the Shooting Stars showcase.

“I love going to All-Star weekend as an ambassador for the WNBA and to be able to be engaged in all of the activities surrounding the weekend,” Catchings wrote on her blog ahead of the weekend.

Now, Catchings, 35, has had plenty of practice with that mid-court shot. To conclude shootaround on game days, Lin Dunn, who retired after being the Fever’s head coach since 2008, put a $20 bill down and the first to hit got it.

Years ago, this event used to be even more special, with trios representing the cities they played for.

In 2012, for example, Team New York — Allan Houston, Landry Fields, Cappie Pondexter — won the crown. The NBA got away from that in  2013, primarily because so many cities did not have WNBA teams. Team Bosh is seeking its third straight title Saturday.

That’s unfortunate for Indiana fans, because both Paul George and Catchings so desired to pair up with Hall of Famer Reggie Miller and represent Hoosiers and Pacers Sports & Entertainment.

George told me he plans to be there at the Barclays Center to watch the events, and to support Catchings.

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Oh, how things have changed from one year ago.

Last February, in New Orleans, the Pacers had the best record in the Eastern Conference and thus Frank Vogel and his coaching staff led the Eastern Conference team. George was voted in a starter by the fans, and Roy Hibbert was a reserve.

This year: Zip. Nada. Most of the team are in the southern part of the United States getting warm, resting, and healing up for the final 28 games. George, who has not played a game this season due to the compound fracture he suffered on August 1, is a top ten player when healthy and as such, has numerous promotional appearances in New York City this weekend. Those include engagements with NewEra, Lids, Nike, and an autograph session at Macy’s.

One note to note: Steve Kerr, whose Warriors have the NBA’s best record (42-9), will be the first head coach to lead an All-Star team in his first season Larry Bird in 1998.

Some photos from Catchings’ weekend:

Great time this morning @NBA All-star weekend #TechSummitt. One of the hottest tix n town ; ) #SoBlessed @WNBA pic.twitter.com/r4batORn4B

— Tamika Catchings (@Catchin24) February 13, 2015

@Catchin24 loves the kids! #NBAAllStarNYC #befit pic.twitter.com/PQBkrpgvSd

— TeaboogieProductions (@Teaboogie) February 14, 2015

.@tinacharles31 & @Catchin24 show off their @SpecialOlympics gold medals following the Unified Game. #NBACaresNYC15 pic.twitter.com/Si3FBC2rxG

— NBA Cares (@nbacares) February 14, 2015