Tamika Catchings Named Defensive Player Of The Year

Published on September 25, 2009 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release

NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2009 Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings was named the 2009 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year presented by Kia Motors, the league announced today. Catchings received 34 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, beating out the Los Angeles Sparks Candace Parker and Atlanta Dreams Erika de Souza, each of whom garnered two votes. Catchings previously won the award in 2005 and 2006 and joins Sheryl Swoopes as the only three-time winners of this award.

In honor of being named the Defensive Player of the Year presented by Kia Motors, Catchings will receive $5,000 and a trophy specially designed by Tiffany & Co.

Catchings led the WNBA in steals per game (2.91) for an unprecedented fifth time (2002-2.94-95; 2005-2.65-90; 2006-2.94-94; 2007-3.14-66) as she helped the Fever finish the regular season with the leagues third-ranked defense (73.6 points allowed per game and a league-record 373 steals). She also ranked eighth in total defensive rebounds (159) and tied for 13th in defensive rebounds per game (4.7) while contributing 18 blocked shots.

Now in her eighth season, Catchings 99 steals were one shy of the WNBA's all-time, single-season record of 100 set by Teresa Weatherspoon of the New York Liberty in 1998 and gave her four of the top five marks in league history. Catchings 94 steals in 2002 and 2006 are tied for third most and her 90 in 2005 ranks as the fifth best figure in league history. The 99 steals also raised her career total to 631 and moved her into third place on the WNBAs all-time list, one behind Sheryl Swoopes (632) and 54 fewer than Ticha Penicheiro (the current Sacramento Monarchs player who has tallied 685).

Selected by Indiana with the third overall pick in the 2001 Draft, Catchings has been known throughout her career as arguably one of the most complete players ever to play the game, and she proved as much once again in 2009. Catchings not only paced the 2009 Fever in rebounds (15.1 rpg), assists (3.1 apg), and steals, but ranked second in scoring, including a franchise record 31 consecutive free throws.

While her seven double-doubles tied for sixth in the WNBA this season, Catchings authored another, more impressive double-double. The only WNBA player to rank among the top 15 all-time in career points, rebounds, assists and steals, Catchings cracked the top 15 in each of these same categories in 2009.

One of the most accomplished players in womens basketball history, Catchings is a four-time All-WNBA First Team selection, six-time WNBA All-Star, a member of the WNBAs All-Decade Team, and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Her WNBA career totals include 4,047 points, 1,892 rebounds, 897 assists and 631 steals.

For the first time ever, a single WNBA marketing partner will present the WNBA Most Valuable Player, WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, WNBA Most Improved Player, and WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year, grouped under the banner of The WNBA Performance Awards presented by Kia Motors. As a Proud Partner of the WNBA and the official presenter of the awards, Kia Motors will be incorporated into the formal award presentations and will receive prominent branding in the awards coverage on WNBA.com.

Below are the complete results of the 2009 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year presented by Kia Motors votes and a list of past recipients:

2009 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS RESULTS

34 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever

2 Erika de Souza Atlanta Dream

2 Candace Parker Los Angeles Sparks

1 Alana Beard Washington Mystics

1 Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm

ALL-TIME DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KIA MOTORS WINNERS

2009 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever

2008 Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks

2007 Lauren Jackson Seattle Storm

2006 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever

2005 Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever

2004 Lisa Leslie Los Angeles Sparks

2003 Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets

2002 Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets

2001 Debbie Black Miami Sol

2000 Sheryl Swoopes Houston Comets

1999 Yolanda Griffith Sacramento Monarchs

1998 Teresa Weatherspoon New York Liberty

1997 Teresa Weatherspoon New York Liberty

Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 25, 2009

• Bird Buys Balcony - Pack The House Saturday - Indiana Fever
• McCoughtry and Lyttle Named to 2009 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team - Atlanta Dream
• Catchings Earns Third Defensive Player of the Year Award - Indiana Fever
• Catchings & Bevilaqua named First Team All-Defense - Indiana Fever
• Chicago Sky Sign General Manager, Head Coach Steven Key To New Contract - Chicago Sky
• WNBA All-Defensive Selections Announced - WNBA
• Tamika Catchings Named Defensive Player Of The Year - WNBA
• Lynx Center Nicky Anosike Named to 2009 WNBA All-Defensive First Team - Minnesota Lynx

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