Catchings visits Connecticut one last time
Mohegan — It was many years ago now, somewhere inside Gampel Pavilion, when Geno Auriemma was asked about the excitement surrounding his incoming recruiting class: Sue Bird, Asjha Jones, Swin Cash and Tamika Williams among them.
Auriemma, wearing a wry grin, looked at the questioner and said, "I'd trade them all for Tamika Catchings."
And for nearly the last two decades, the women's basketball community has appreciated Catchings for her talent, leadership, selflessness and perpetual elevation of the game.
Catchings, a Tennessee graduate, former WNBA Most Valuable Player and the face of the Indiana Fever,
plays her final game at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Catchings will retire at season's end.
This is the final stop in what she calls her "Legacy Tour," during which Catchings will donate $2,000 to a local charitable foundation as well as meet fans.
"I really wanted something different. We started thinking, what could we do? And to me, the most important thing is the community and giving back," Catchings said earlier this season when the Fever played the Sun. "I wanted something in each city that allowed the fans to get to know more about me, face-to-face, to really have the opportunity to be with me one on one."
Catchings was a recent winner of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, given to the player who most reflects the values of leadership and spirit while actively pursuing charitable contributions to the community. Catchings spoke at more many events throughout the season to promote education and health and to discourage school bullying.
Catchings is known for the "Catch the Stars Foundation," an organization that mentors youth to achieve their dreams by improving their literacy and fitness. Through that she provided free backpacks and school supplies to over 600 students.
"There have been a lot of great players in the WNBA, but I'm not sure there's been a more well-rounded player than Tamika," Indiana coach Stephanie White said.
And then there are her on-court contributions. Catchings recently eclipsed 7,000 career points and was part of the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team. She's won the MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and was the centerpiece of the Fever's 2012 WNBA championship team.
Tuesday's game will have more meaning for the Fever (16-15), who have qualified for the eight-team playoff but are still playing for seeding. The Sun (11-20), meanwhile, were eliminated from playoff contention after Sunday's 96-86 loss to the Chicago Sky. This is Connecticut's fourth straight season missing the playoffs. m.dimauro@theday.com