Catchings Ready to Make Naperville Debut
January 15, 2004 - National Women's Basketball League (NWBL)
Chicago Blaze News Release
Naperville, IL - She is arguably the best professional basketball player in the women's game today. She is an Olympian. She is a WNBA All-Star. She was the 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year. She was a 4 time Kodak All-American at the University of Tennessee. She won back-to-back championships playing in the Women's Korean Basketball League. She won a gold medal at the 2003 World Championship Games in China. What's next for Tamika Catchings? To lead the Chicago Blaze to their first NWBL Pro-Cup Championship.
Catchings was the first player ever signed to wear a Chicago Blaze uniform. That was in the winter of 2002 when she was rehabbing from a knee injury that forced her to miss most of her senior season and her entire first year in the WNBA. Catchings led the Blaze to a 16-4 regular season record (first place) and led the team in every major statistical category in the process. Unfortunately for the Blaze, Catchings missed the NWBL Pro Cup Championship Game to compete for a spot on the United States Women's National Team.
The Blaze organization was ecstatic when Catchings agreed to play again this season. "I'm partial to Tamika" said Blaze president Joseph McCoy. "To me, there is no better player. She's phenomenal on and off the court. She is an Olympian. How often can you say that you saw an Olympian compete in person? It is very special for her to be with us this year, especially in an Olympic year."
Playing for the Blaze is somewhat of a homecoming for Catchings. In 1995, she was the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year and she led Stevenson High School to the Illinois State Basketball Championship. "It's always special to come home and it's always special to play in front of your family. Playing for the Blaze means a lot to me."
The Blaze will tip off the 2004 NWBL season on Sunday, January 18 at 3 PM versus the Colorado Chill at Merner Fieldhouse on the campus of North Central College. The Chill are led by WNBA Finals MVP Ruth Riley. Colorado's team features several players from the WNBA. "Sunday afternoon will really be something to see," said Blaze general manager Robert Graham.
The Chicago Blaze is entering its third season in the NWBL. The Blaze will play a 22 game schedule from January 11-March 23 and will play its home games at Merner Fieldhouse located at North Central College in Naperville, IL. The teams with the top four records will make the playoffs.
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National Women's Basketball League Stories from January 15, 2004
- Catchings Ready to Make Naperville Debut - Chicago Blaze
- First NWBL Televised Game makes History - Colorado Chill
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