HOOPS ELITE MAGAZINE
Talking with the Legend
Q&A with Tamika
Catchings
Hoops Elite Magazine had a one on one with WNBA Legend and Gold
Medalist Tamika Catchings before her 2015 season starts in June. In
our time with Catchings, we got to learn that she is as great off the
court as she is on the court. A true legend and role model.
1. When did you know you wanted to be a basketball player?
I was raised in a sports family. My father, Harvey Catchings, played in the
NBA. With us moving around when I was young as he went to different
teams, sports was introduced very early. I was also born with a hearing
and speech problem, which created a need for hearing aids. As a child,
I was always the one that got teased for the way I looked, the way I
talked, or the hearing aids in my ears. That’s how sports became
so important to me. On the playing field, I knew that if I practiced and got really good, that no one could make fun of me
for any of my disabilities. I used sports and faith as the two
outlets that could keep me safe.
I decided in the 7th grade that I wanted to be a
professional basketball player. I don’t know
what it was that made me make the decision.
I just remember writing down my goals
and posting it on my mirror. I told my
dad too, and from that point forward
our workouts were more fine-tuned
to ‘getting better’ instead of just
having fun. I wanted to be a
professional and I knew that
I would have to work extra
hard to get there.
2. What stereotypes or issues did you have to deal
with by being a women’s
basketball player?
Growing up, I was a total tomboy and I enjoyed playing sports
16 | Issue 2 - March 2015