Catch a Star

by Tamika Catchings

  And if you do this right, it explodes out the same way every time.

  But to get to that point, you have to practice endlessly. Over and over. And for the longest time, it feels unnatural. And when you’re actually shooting the ball, you miss the shot at first.

  The toughest thing for a player is to miss shots.

  And the temptation is to go back to your old way of doing things to sink the basket. But you have to avoid that, fight against that instinct, and practice the discipline of doing it the right way, using the right form, following the sequence of shooting that ultimately works best.

  How often do we do things our way, our old-life way, and while we think we get away with that just fine, we aren’t really achieving the life God wants for us?

  His way of living life is what’s best for us. But sometimes we have to go through his discipline to get there. We have to relearn how to live, get away from bad habits, and practice the life he has for us. It’s like an infant learning to walk for the first time.

  But ultimately, it’s better. God’s way is always better.

  17

  Transition

  There’s only one way to go from here . . . forward.

  Tamika

  I’m writing this late in 2015, a year away from life without ball, and God has shown me his better way with all the opportunities and people he continues to bring into my life. What my life has taught me (and the people closest to me have taught me this as well) is that I can be a little stubborn and strong-willed. But on the flipside, the positives include my passion, my love, my selflessness, the warrior inside of me, the discipline, the self-motivation, and the work ethic. So the challenge ahead will be whether I can relinquish some control of life so that I can let someone else into it.

  I think I can. It’s the lesson I’ve also had to learn about God and me. It will take work in my relationships and the next phase of my life, I know. But no one ever accused me of not working hard.

  There’s so much to accomplish, and I truly believe these fourteen years I’ve played basketball are just the tip of the iceberg for where God has me next. I’m eager to see where my life and all the items on my “to do” list end up.

  Get married

  Have kids

  Be a general manager in basketball

  Inspire, motivate, and encourage others

  It’s time to move on to the next thing God has for me. Like I always speak about, life is all about new goals. When you reach one, you enjoy the success, but you continue to set out to do new things. Never get content with doing just one thing, or reaching just one goal. Your success propels you to the next goal—short or long term.

  So the real test for all my relationships will be my retirement as an active player. Which ones stand firm based on the true foundation that has been set, and which ones dwindle away based only on basketball.

  That, we will soon see.

  I envision this scene in my head with our Catch the Stars youth basketball camps here in Indianapolis:

  Some of the kids are here, but the basketballs haven’t yet arrived. I walk into the gym and start talking to them. Some of them talk with ease, and others just stare in admiration. They’re excited that I’m there—a real-life basketball star. Over time I have all of them talking, laughing, and joking. To me, it’s always been fun to watch kids gradually come out of their shells and allow me to see the “real” them. They are so full of life and potential.

  Across the way, on the court, I see a girl all alone, maybe ten years old.

  I turn back to the kids around me. Some tell me how they won their game on a city playground court the day before. Some tell me about their siblings and parents.

  I love being around kids.

  I look up and see that same girl on the court. I watch her more closely this time. She’s still just there all by herself, but now she is moving on the court, running, darting, dodging, and weaving. Practicing. Perhaps pretending to be a star forward in the WNBA, she pretends to dribble an invisible basketball. She drives up the court, stops, then jumps. And shoots, her arms extending above her head, her fingers stretched.

  And I know what she hears.

  The roar of a crowd. The rush of the game. And the mesmerizing swish of a basketball falling through the net.

  I look at that girl, so like myself years ago, and I wonder about her life ahead. Her relationships. Her family. And if she hears God in her life.

  You see, that’s what really matters.

  18

  Looking Back, Looking Forward

  A Legend Lost

  2016 was a heartbreaking year. We lost a true legend—my coach, my mentor, my friend. The person who taught me and so many others about the game of basketball, but more importantly, the game of life, was gone.

  Pat Summitt passed away on June 28, 2016. I remember waking up early that morning to my phone ringing—which was unusual, since I always turn the ringer off before I go to bed. As I answered, the voice on the other end kept saying, “Catch, Catch . . . are you there? Catch, are you there? Can you hear me?” As the person on the other line kept asking me if I was okay, my heart sank and tears welled up in my eyes. While I scrambled in the dark for the TV remote, somehow I already knew that Pat—my friend—had passed on and gone to heaven.

  I don’t know how long I sat there crying and trying to dive deeper into my husband’s arms as if that would bring her back. But it didn’t work. My heavy tears turned to dry heaves, then emptiness. I lay in my bed in disbelief, replaying memories of Pat in my head.

  When Pat told me in 2011 that she had dementia, I was confident that it would not be the disease that would take her from us. She was so strong, so powerful, so humble—a real-life Superwoman. She was everything and more. As we mourned the loss of our friend and coach, I prayed to God to give me strength and to help heal the pain inside. In my grief, there were times I even pondered if I wanted to play basketball again. But then I realized that Pat always knew that my impact in the world would be through basketball, and I would not let her down.

  There’s never an easy way to get over someone passing away. Every picture I see, every time I hear her name, every memory, still bring tears to my eyes. But the pain has lessened as I continue to talk about her legacy and just how extraordinary she was. I remember her icy blue stare. I feel the warmth of her hugs. I can still hear her voice cheering me on and sharing how proud she was of me. The legacy that Pat created is one that all of Lady Vols have a responsibility to carry on. Her legacy is our legacy.

  Retirement

  As I look back on my fifteen-year professional basketball career, I’m in awe of how blessed I’ve been and how far the game I love has taken me. God is so good! It’s hard to believe that the shy little girl I was could dare to dream the biggest of dreams, set lofty goals, and conquer them all. If someone had told my ten-year-old self that I’d be an Olympian and win not only one gold medal, but four, I don’t think I would have believed them. But by the grace of God and through a lot of hard work, my dreams became my reality.

  The Legacy Tour

  My final season was commemorated through a Legacy Tour, hosted in every WNBA city. The purpose of the Tour was to provide an opportunity to connect with fans across the league while also fundraising and increasing awareness of Catch the Stars Foundation.

  As part of the Tour, $2,000 grants were given to youth-serving non-profit organizations in each WNBA city. In total, we gave out $24,000 (my number was 24), with a goal of expanding Catch the Stars into WNBA markets in the future.

  My Final Olympic Run

  The Rio experience was totally different than the others. But, to be honest, each Olympic experience was unique because they came at different phases in my life. In 2002, I was just a young “rook” on the USA Senior World Championship Team. I soaked up everything I heard and saw from the very teammates that I had looked up to since my younger years—Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes. Playing with them was a dream come true. We won the gold i
n China at the Worlds.

  Then I was selected to play on the 2004 Olympic team. Rolling into the Athens games, I was so pumped to play with some of my role models who would end up becoming my teammates, and ultimately my lifelong mentors and friends. I loved the feeling of being next to my heroes. As a member of that team, my role was to be ready when my name was called and to be the defensive stopper that I had learned about at the University of Tennessee. Coach Van Chancellor put me on all of the best opposing players because he knew my commitment to our team defensive principles, and that I would do my best for the team. The fun didn’t stop on the court—being able to explore Athens and to take our team picture at the Parthenon was truly amazing. I swear, I didn’t think the pride I felt wearing that red, white, and blue, and representing TEAM USA could be matched, but it just grew more and more with every Olympics.

  The road to Beijing in 2008 almost ended when I tore my right Achilles tendon and partially tore my left plantar fascia during the playoffs in 2007. Needless to say, I was down for the count for a bit. But, knowing what was at stake, I was determined to represent my country in Beijing, and I wasn’t going to let anything stop me. When we headed to Beijing in 2008, I was no longer the “first timer” with nothing to say. Don’t get me wrong—I didn’t overstep my boundaries, and I didn’t speak much, but I had a little bit more influence on how things would get done. We had lost in the 2006 World Championship games, so I knew my “just do” way was something that we needed. Coming off the loss, and still trying to get to 100 percent from my injuries, this time around was all work and minimal play. Definitely not like Athens! Our fun moment was venturing up the Great Wall. We won again in Beijing, and then it was time to prepare for the 2010 Worlds and the next Olympic Games.

  During the 2012 games in London, roles shifted yet again and I felt as though Sue, Diana, and I were the veterans and leaders. Third time’s the charm, right? We had a few new players—Lindsay Whalen, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, and Ashja Jones—but the core group mostly stayed the same. London may have been my favorite of the four Olympics city-wise, and being able to get out and walk around the city was a huge highlight for us.

  One thing that I love about playing on the US team is the unselfishness that everyone plays with and how we’re able to get along both on and off the court. The crazy thing is that we go from competing against each other on our respective WNBA teams for a championship to playing with each other for the Olympics in the midst of our regular season. And after the Olympics are over and we’ve spent a month with our Olympic teammates, we go back to being competitors in the WNBA. Definitely a unique concept, but the opportunity is so worth it. As a team, the focus and tenacity that we played with was unmatched, and we went on to win gold in my third Games. Going in, I was planning on this being my last Olympics. As a veteran on the team, I didn’t know if I would be healthy enough to compete for a spot in another four years, and I wanted to give someone else an opportunity to experience what I had. But in a post-game interview, we were asked, “Will we see you in Rio?” And to that, Diana answered: “Yeaaaaaaaaa!” And so the quest for four in Rio started.

  Honestly, I’d have to say the Rio Olympics was the most challenging for me as a person and a player. The biggest challenge was understanding and accepting my new role on the team. Olympic teams are like All-Star teams. Each player stars, leads, and plays a key role on her respective professional/college teams, myself included. I’d pretty much been the voice, the face, and the leader of the Fever throughout my fifteen-year professional career.

  I came into the Rio Games anxious to go out strong. I didn’t know what role I was going to play on this team, but I mentally prepared myself to take on whatever role was given to me, to be positive, and to do my very best. I planned to play my heart out and leave everything on the court, whether I was a starter, one of the first substitutions, or the last player off the bench. This team was loaded with talent, youth, energy, and we added more new players to the mix—Brittney Griner, Elena Della Donne, and Breanna Stewart. Sometimes the hardest thing is recognizing how your individual game has changed and being able to accept that you can contribute in other ways. I knew this would be my last Olympics, but I was super excited about the future of these much younger and brighter stars. Not being a starter was a tough pill to swallow—but my ultimate goal was to win, and basketball is a team sport. I was representing my country. So I had a choice—I could listen to the voices around me complaining about my lack of playing time, or I could get my workouts in, stay dialed in, and always be ready for when my name was called. I chose the latter.

  When I think back to this time, the thing that kept me centered through it all was my faith in God. I always preach about the importance of being a great teammate and growing from difficult situations, and I can honestly say that I grew in my faith as a person and even more so as a teammate. I’ve talked to many players about staying positive and being ready at all times, even if they’re not playing as much as they want. But I never truly understood that frustration until after my experience in Rio. But with the world watching, I hope that I taught a lot of players about how to take advantage of the opportunities God does give us.

  And while I had my days of disappointment, I loved being a part of this team and it was a blessing to have earned a roster spot. My teammates were awesome, and I made it my mission to enjoy every moment of my final Olympic experience. Sharing Opening Ceremonies with our first-time Olympians and being able to wander around Olympic Village, meet some of the other athletes, and take pictures was a lot of fun. The difference for me going into this Olympics was having my husband there with me and being able to walk the streets, enjoy each other, and spend time with my family that came over to support me. This time, when I wasn’t playing I took the opportunity to focus on other things and really soak in the Olympic experience. When we stood on the podium, waiting to receive our gold medals, I looked to my left, then to my right, and then up.

  Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity and the chance to finish strong with my family where they’ve always been—by my side.

  Influencers

  Throughout the years, I have had so many great people come into my life to push, encourage, and mentor me. The journey started with my family, and then continued with my coaches, teachers, fans, chaplains, church family, and most of all, my teammates. There’s never been a situation or a season that I haven’t learned something from the people that I’ve been around.

  I learned how to be a leader, both on and off the court, from my Olympic teammate, Dawn Staley. I had been the captain of countless teams, but I had never truly understood what that meant. I spent countless hours in the gym, since my way of speaking was through my hard work. Dawn was the first teammate that took me under her wing and showed me what a leader was. Not only did I love her on the court, but I was motivated by her endeavors with her own established foundation. While I was under her wing, I learned how to be a pro both on the court and off. And as I developed, I learned how to be a better teammate, how to listen, how to focus, how to be at my best, and how to get the best from other people.

  After announcing my retirement, I made it my mission to pass the baton to my teammates—to help them develop into the leaders that I know they will be. A sign of a great leader is what happens after you are gone. The future is bright for the Indiana Fever, Team USA, and Women’s basketball as a whole.

  In the Studio

  In January 2017, I started a new phase of involvement in the sport I love. I became an analyst for ESPN’s SEC Network, calling several of the women’s basketball games during the season. I never imagined being an analyst because, in my mind, I didn’t think I would be good at it—my speech might not be good enough, or I might miss something big on national TV. But when asked, “What happens if you’re great at it, but you never even tried it?” I knew I had to at least give it a try. I have always preached to others that you won’t know what you’re good at until you try it. I had to take a lo
ng, hard look at myself and force myself to get over my doubts and fears and give it a shot. And I pledged to myself that if I was going to do it, I was going to do it to the best of my ability. As a young girl, I imagined a career in basketball, but I never imagined being off the court, calling a game. I can’t remember a time in my life when I was more nervous than I was when getting ready to call my first game—Texas A&M at Kentucky. But once the game started, the nerves disappeared, and I liked it! Some dreams—even the ones you don’t know you have—can come true if you get out of your own head and give them a try!

  Mrs. Basketball

  In the midst of all of the great things that have happened since retiring, I am still trying to take time and “learn” how to be a wife. For the majority of my life, I’ve been pretty much married to the game of basketball. In this new chapter of my life, I’m learning how to be more domestic and present, and how to serve my husband. It is and will continue to be a challenge for me, but I love every part of it! God truly brought the perfect man into my life at the most perfect time. His presence in my life made it easier for me to walk away from my career without regrets. We are blessed and looking forward to what the next chapters of our lives will bring.

  Tea’s Me Café Indy

  Sometimes the craziest things happen at the craziest times! My family grew up drinking tea. Well, out of the blue, my passion for drinking tea presented an opportunity to be an entrepreneur and own my own tea shop, Tea’s Me Cafe Indy, and I love it! Over the course of my WNBA career, I have been a loyal customer of the founder and his wife, Wayne and Stacey Ashford, and we eventually developed a friendship over tea. As they planned to move, the Ashfords were looking for a way to keep Tea’s Me open, but they didn’t know how that was going to happen. Well, when I heard about the opportunity, I can’t say I jumped on it right away, but I knew that I wanted to figure out a way to keep Tea’s Me open. So I ended up buying the shop from them. I absolutely love it and what it represents in my life—calmness, quiet, stability, and love. So here we go!