Tamika Catchings will step down as vice president of basketball operations and general manager of the Indiana Fever, the team announced Feb. 14.
In a statement, Catchings said basketball has been central to everything she’s done and helped her become the person she is.
“First as a player and then as an executive, I have been committed to the challenge of finding ways to improve, ways to succeed, and ultimately ways to put my teams in winning positions,” she said.
Catchings’ storied basketball career includes 15 years in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, four Olympic gold medals, a WNBA championship in 2012, an MVP award in 2011 and five defensive player of the year awards.
Catchings, who was drafted No. 3 overall in 2001, retired in 2016. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Pacers Sports and Entertainment owner Herb Simon said in a statement Catchings has a way of inspiring people both on and off the court.
“As the leader of our championship franchise for two decades and one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball history, Tamika has been instrumental in making the dream of professional sports a reality for future generations of female athletes,” he said.
Outside of basketball, Catchings owns Tea’s Me Cafe — which recently expanded to a second location — and founded Catch the Stars Foundation to empower youth with fitness, literacy and character development programs.
Catchings will continue in her volunteer role as co-chair for the 2024 NBA All-Star Board of Directors.
