Written by
The Sports Network
Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Forward Tamika Catchings, the reigning
Most Valuable Player of the WNBA, has signed a free agent contract to remain
with the Indiana Fever.
Terms of the deal, which was announced Wednesday, were not disclosed.
Catchings finished runner-up for league MVP three times before finally winning
the award last September.
She averaged 15.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 33 games, all below
her career numbers, but was the first Fever player ever to win the league's
top individual award.
Catchings, 32, has never averaged fewer that 13.3 points or 6.3 rebounds per
game in 10 WNBA seasons and is a seven-time All-Star.
Last season, she became the first WNBA player to eclipse 5,000 points, 2,000
rebounds and 1,000 assists. She is the only player to rank among the league's
all-time top 10 in points, rebounds, assists and steals.
"Tamika is the most versatile player in the WNBA," Fever coach Lin Dunn said
in a statement. "Her ability to perform at such a high level on both ends of
the floor has been a key to our seven straight playoff appearances. She has
been the face of our franchise for 10 years and we are fortunate to have her
in Indiana."
The Fever went 23-13 this past season and earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern
Conference, but lost to Atlanta in the conference finals. Catchings led them
to the WNBA Finals in 2009.
The Sports Network