Indiana Fever Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Kelly Krauskopf has announced the re-signing of Olympic gold medalist and five-time WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings.
Catchings, the president of the WNBA Players Association and an unrestricted free agent, signed a four-year deal that will carry through the 2011 season. As per team policy, terms of the contract are not disclosed.
The 6-1 Catchings, 28, was the Fever’s top draft pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft (third overall) and the 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year. She has played every pro season in an Indiana uniform and is responsible for virtually every mark in the Fever record book. A two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, she was a starter on the U.S. Olympic Team that won a gold medal during the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
“Tamika is the cornerstone of our franchise,” said Krauskopf. “She is not only a great athlete, but a significant contributor in the Indianapolis community. We wanted to demonstrate our commitment to her for the long term as she continues to give back so much on and off the basketball court. She has a tireless work ethic, which is demonstrated through her improved play every season. I am proud to have her as a member of this franchise.”
Added Catchings, “I am very happy and excited about re-signing with the Indiana Fever. I feel like we are putting the pieces together to go for a championship run, and I am looking forward to jump-starting that. Along those same lines, the fans have been great and the support that I have received from everyone is a reason that I don’t want to go anywhere.”
“I am looking forward to staying in Indy and growing my Catch The Stars Foundation,” Catchings said. “We have a lot of great programs now, and expect to continue adding more as we help kids ‘reach their dreams one star at a time.’”
The Indiana Fever begins its ninth WNBA season by hosting the Washington Mystics on Saturday, May 17 (7 p.m.). Led by WNBA All-Stars Catchings, Katie Douglas and Tammy Sutton-Brown, the Fever bids for its first WNBA Finals appearance after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in two of the past three seasons. Season tickets are available at www.FeverBasketball.com or by calling (317) 917-2500.
