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INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Fever vice president of basketball operations and general manager Tamika Catchings was inducted into the 2020 Class of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame today.

The Class of 2020 will be enshrined on Saturday, August 29 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

“I am incredibly honored to be included in this year’s Naismith Hall of Fame, and God only knows the dreams I had as a little girl to be able to follow in my father’s footsteps,” Catchings said. “I am so thankful to stand alongside so many amazing men and women that have come before me.”

She is joined by 18-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, 15-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan, 15-time NBA All-Star and nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection Kevin Garnett, four-time National Coach of the Year Eddie Sutton, two-time NBA Champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich, three-time NCAA National Championship Coach of Baylor Kim Mulkey, five-time Division II National Coach of the Year Barbara Stevens and longtime FIBA executive Patrick Baumann in this year’s illustrious class.

“Tamika is a Hall of Famer in every sense of the word, someone whose success on the court and generosity off it have made her such an important figure in our sport,” said Pacers Sports & Entertainment Chairman and CEO Herb Simon. “She is what young players aspire to be, and it is fitting that she is being recognized in this very special way. We’re so proud that she’s a part of our PS&E family, and I congratulate her on this amazing accomplishment.”

The Class of 2020 Enshrinement festivities will begin at Mohegan Sun on Friday, August 28 with the newly formatted Enshrinement Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala. The Class of 2020 and over 50 returning Hall of Famers will then journey to Springfield, Mass. for the annual celebratory events taking place at the newly renovated Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Springfield Symphony Hall on the 29th.

“Tamika is a gift to the game of basketball and her induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is a fitting recognition of a career spent winning, leading and mentoring others,” PS&E President and COO Rick Fuson said. “From high school to college to the pros and even representing our nation, Tamika has won championships at every level and done it with unmatched professionalism. Our entire organization and our fans couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Catchings played her entire 15-year career with the Indiana Fever, was named the 2011 WNBA MVP and led the Fever to the 2012 WNBA Championship, earning Finals MVP honors. Catchings was named to the All-WNBA team 12 times in her career. She played at the University of Tennessee from 1997-2001, winning a national championship and ranks fourth all time in career points for the Lady Vols. She also won four consecutive Olympic gold medals with Team USA from 2002-2016.

“She is a leader, philanthropist and mentor who drives to be excellent in all that she does,” Fever President and COO Allison Barber said. “I am thrilled that she is being recognized by the Naismith Hall of Fame for all of her success on the court and in the community.”

To further celebrate Catchings’ induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame, fans are asked to wear a favorite Tamika Catchings- themed item on Monday. Fans are also encouraged to share their favorite photos all day on social media with the Indiana Fever.

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