January 17, 2007 • Colorado Springs, Colorado and Seoul, South Korea

Involved with USA Basketball since the summer before her senior year in high school as a member of the 1996 USA U18 National Team, Tamika Catchings has gone from a wide-eyed youngster in awe of members of the historic 1995-96 USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team to a mainstay on the USA Senior National Team. She has come full-circle and is now one of the athletes idolized by youngsters honing their skills.

She was training in Colorado Springs with the U18 squad at the same time that the '95-96 USA team was in town. They shared the same court, at different times of course, and the same vision -- to be counted among the best in the world. And 10 years later, she's definitely achieved that goal.

In '96 Catchings went on to help the U.S. qualify for the 1997 FIBA Junior (U19) World Championship, taking a silver medal at the FIBA Americas tournament. She returned in '97 to help catapult the United States onto the medal stand for the first time in the history of FIBA U19 World Championship play. Prior to '97 the U.S. had finished as high as fifth place. After falling 80-74 to defending champion Australia in the preliminary round, the USA's only blemish that year, Catchings helped spur the U.S. to a 78-74 overtime victory over Australia in the gold medal contest.

She went on to win gold at the 1998 R. William Jones Cup following her freshman campaign at Tennessee and returned to the red, white and blue during the 2002 USA Women's Senior National Team's spring training. As a hopeful for a roster spot on the 2002 USA World Championship squad, one play into her first practice and she had USA head coach Van Chancellor convinced. He had to have her on the team.

Later that year Catchings became the first American to claim gold at both the junior and top-level FIBA World Championship. Earning a starting role for all nine games Catchings' 10.0 points per game in China helped the United States to an unblemished 9-0 slate and the FIBA World Championship gold medal. Two years later she aided the USA to its third consecutive Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics and was in 2006 tabbed once again for the USA World Championship squad. Despite a disappointing loss to Russia in the semifinal contest, Catchings came close to a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds in the USA's 99-59 dismantling of host Brazil in the bronze medal contest.

She is a well-rounded person who has done as much off the court as she has playing ball. Tops among her many community events is her Catch The Stars Foundation, which she created to motivate at-risk youth in the Indianapolis area achieve their dreams and goals by providing positive academic and sports related programs. She has worked with Habitat for Humanity, fed the homeless with the Pacers at Thanksgiving, conducted fitness clinics where the price of admission for each participant was 10 items of food that went to a local food bank, and her foundation adopted a family for the holidays.

In addition to all of that, Catchings competes professionally abroad in the winter months, collecting three (and counting) Korean league titles. She has also earned WNBA honors too numerous to list here.

So with everything going on in Catchings' life, you would think it would be difficult to catch up with her. However, USA Basketball.com reached out to the other side of the world -- Seoul, Korea, to be exact -- for an update on what she's been up to these days.

What have you been doing since the World Championship?
Since the World Championship, I have been taking a break!! I visited family more than I have since I was in high school and got a chance to rest my body a lot. I also had quite a few events with my Catch the Stars Foundation, Inc. It has been a very productive time frame for myself and CTSF.

How did your holiday camps go?
Both of the Holiday Camps were great!!! We had our 6th annual Catch the Stars Youth Holiday Basketball Camp right after Christma, and our 3rd annual camp out in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Both were huge successes, and we look forward to reaching out and touching the lives of many more aspiring basketball players.

You're back in Korea where you've won a few championships. Do you think your team can make another run at the title?
We've won three championships over here. This is my fourth time, so I'm hoping that I can stay undefeated. I think that our team has a shot at winning another title, but we just have to stay focused and together. We are a very young team, but I think that that could be a strength for us if we use it right.

What do you think of kimchee and the different foods that are available in Korea?
I'm not going to lie. I don't do much experimenting when it comes to food. I don't like hot, spicy foods, so kimchee is off limits for me. Pretty much the only Korean foods I enjoy are fried rice (gotta love it) and the beef bulgolgi. Other than that Seoul is very Americanized, and you can find all kinds of great foods to eat!! Love it!!

Do you get a lot of Americans cheering for you at games there, or are you near any U.S. military bases?
There is a base near the main gym here in Seoul. The problem is that we rarely have our games in Seoul. Out of the six teams in the WKBL only one or two of them actually have their home gyms right here in Seoul. Our home gym for Woori Bank is in Chuncheon City, which is about an hour and a half outside of Seoul. Not too bad, but you can't expect those who have military lives to come all the way out there. Sometimes when I see other Americans, I'll stop and invite them to the games when we play at the main gym.

Who do you think the top competition will be next summer at the FIBA Americas Championship?
Honestly, I don't think that there's any one country that you can count out when it comes to the FIBA Americas Championship. Brazil, of course, is going to be tough, but we need to focus on each team that we play, and go out there and win. The only competition that we know we won't face is Australia, which won the World Championship, and other teams who aren't in our zone, like Russia and China. But, we have to focus on each team in order to play in the 2008 Olympics. We can't overlook anyone.

If the U.S. doesn't win the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, the team will have to qualify sometime, probably mid-summer, at the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. That could be difficult if it's in the middle of the WNBA season. Does that make you, provided you're on the team, more motivated to win the gold medal in Chile in September?
I'm motivated to win the gold medal in Chile no matter what. I think the bad taste that we all felt in our mouths after losing to Russia was enough to make us hungry to play again! We will be motivated to win, and we're going to have to bring our A game every game!!

As someone who has competed internationally for USA Basketball since high school, how important to your international career was it to be able to play during the summers, competing alongside many different athletes and with the various coaching styles that you saw? How did it help shape your game?
I think that the international game has a different flavor to it. They are more physical for sure, but they also involve more steps and movements with their bodies. Playing international ball, and being able to watch and be coached by international coaches/players has allowed me to add another element to my game. Though sometimes it's not easy to catch on to different moves and techniques these players have developed, I think over time it will pay off, and help add a different dimension to my game.

Who has been your favorite teammate(s)?
My fave teammate with USA Basketball has been Tina Thompson (TT). I think the thing about her is that she is someone I look up to, and she is always so positive. She's someone that, no matter what, knows how to lift my spirits. Plus, she's like my big sister too!

What opposing player has pushed you the most internationally or is there someone you enjoy going up against?
I don't know if there's a certain player. I think I get motivated to be a defensive stopper. Knowing that the coaches rely on me to stop the opposing teams best player/scorer, that gets and keeps me motivated!!

When you first hit the senior national team level, who did you learn the most from and what did she teach you?
I would have to say Dawn Staley. She was such a great leader for our team, and you could tell that everyone had so much respect for her. I studied her leadership skills, and took some back to Indiana. I hope one day to be a great leader not only for the Indiana Fever, but with USA Basketball too.

The USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team has a history of veteran leadership passing the torch to younger players. Do you see yourself in that leadership role yet? And if so, who do you think you'd like to mentor?
I don't see myself in that leadership role yet because we still have a few veterans that are ahead of me. I do feel that once the older veterans move on, I will step up and be more of a leader. As for now, I am enjoying the process, and the moment to learn from all above and before me.

Now for the fun stuff!

• What's the last song you listened to? Deja Vu by Beyonce n Jay Z
  
• Your favorite non-sports web site? www.catchin24.com and www.ae.com
  
• What do you miss most about home when you're overseas? My bed!!!
  
• What's the last book you've read? For One More Day by Mitch Albom
  
• Favorite magazine? Glamour, Essence, Real Simple...
  
• Favorite musician/singer? Lyfe Jennings for now
  
• What's the most interesting place you've been to in all your international travels? Athens, Greece
  
• Favorite international city? Seoul, South Korea
  
• Favorite international cuisine? Beef Bulgolgi
  
• First thing you HAVE to have when you return to the U.S.? Pink bubblegum ice cream!! I store it in my freezer!!!