Indiana basketball fans will celebrate the end to Tamika Catchings’ illustrious 16-year professional career Sunday as the Fever conclude the 2016 regular season at home against the Dallas Wings at 4:00 p.m. ET. Basketball fans across the country will be able to tune in to see Indianapolis honor her in the best way they know.
Tamika Catchings will soon close the chapter on her basketball career.
Several former teammates and staffers are making the trip to Indy to take part. The Fever even moved their annual end-of-season fan appreciation night to Friday, their second-to-last game, in order to make Sunday all about Catch.
Paul George offered up 5,000 balcony tickets to help ensure Catchings receives a proper sendoff. (Those are available beginning at noon on Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.)
She doesn’t know exactly what she’ll do next, although starting a family is a top priority. She was consistently the first player in the gym, often times arriving before staffers had to open up the locker room.
It was her hard work, dedication to the game, and selfless play that made her great. She cares away teammates, had a way to bring them all together and believe, and work together for one common goal. Catchings, who has played her entire professional career with the Fever, who took a chance on her in 2001 — she had a torn right ACL her senior season — and she gave the franchise and the city more than they could have ever asked.
Catchings and Fever will continue play into next week, as they qualified for postseason play for a WNBA record 12th consecutive year. That’s a testament to Catchings and Fever President/General Manager Kelly Krauskopf.
Ahead of the final two regular season games of her career, Catchings talked with local reporters about her career, legacy tour, and what she looks forward to next.
Watch below: