Some great news involving one of the most respected figures in Indiana basketball.
Tamika Catchings — a Hall of Fame player and person — is returning to Pacers Sports & Entertainment in an official capacity.
Catchings, who has remained an Indianapolis resident since being drafted by the Indiana Fever in 2001, will serve in a newly created role as an organizational ambassador.
“Indiana has been my home since I was drafted by the Indiana Fever, and Pacers Sports & Entertainment played such an important role in my life and my journey,” Catchings said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to step into this new ambassador role and continue serving the communities, families and fans that make this place so special. I can’t wait to work alongside the Fever, the Pacers and my PS&E family to help strengthen the impact we can make together.”
Catchings has long answered the call when the organization needed her — whether that meant appearing at press conferences, attending community events, or sitting courtside for games. With the Indiana Fever at the center of national attention the past two seasons, since the arrival of Caitlin Clark, her increased presence is a notable addition.
Catchings was in Las Vegas on Sept. 30 as the undermanned Fever pushed the Aces to overtime in Game 5, and came up just short of the WNBA Finals.
She brings championship pedigree, Olympic experience, and a reputation built on discipline, leadership, and community engagement. She’s a goal setter, action oriented, and naturally an uplifting human. She has great connections across not just the sport, but the also city.
Within PS&E, she’ll be supporting the company’s business, community and basketball initiatives.
“Tamika Catchings is synonymous with basketball excellence, leadership and community commitment in Indiana,” said PS&E President and CEO Mel Raines. “Her legacy as a champion along with her deep connection to our fans and her passion for uplifting others align perfectly with our mission. We are honored to welcome her back in an official capacity and excited for the impact she will make across our organization and community.”
Catchings has been constant ambassador and respected representative of the WNBA, NBA and Pacers Sports & Entertainment throughout her career — and well beyond her playing days.
Since her arrival in Indianapolis more than two decades ago, she has remained deeply involved in the community. While she continues to work as an ESPN game analyst, her focus has consistently extended beyond basketball — emphasizing faith, family, and service.
This will be her seventh different official role within PS&E.
April 2001: Selected third overall in the WNBA Draft by Kelly Krauskopf.
April 2017, one year after retiring, she was hired as the director of player programs and franchise development — across the Fever, Pacers and Mad Ants (now Boom).
March 2019: Named Vice President of Fever Basketball Operations.
November 2019: Added General Manager responsibilities, a role she held until February 2022.
NBA All-Star 2024: Host Committee Co-Chair
WNBA All-Star 2025: Host Committee Co-Chair
January 2026: Named PS&E ambassador
It’s safe to say she has a role within the organization as long as she wants it.
Here was owner Herb Simon back in 2022:
“Since the day we drafted her in 2001, Tamika’s unique ability to encourage, inspire, and unify Hoosiers, both on and off the court, has made her one of Indiana’s most beloved and respected civic voices. As the leader of our championship franchise for two decades and one of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball history, Tamika has been instrumental in making the dream of professional sports a reality for future generations of female athletes.
“… Tamika is a fierce competitor, a Hall of Famer in every sense, and she will always be a part of our family.”
Like when she was playing on the court, Catchings is constantly in motion. She’s always up to something, always pushing herself — and in turn, her community — to be better.
Less than a year into retirement, she purchased Tea’s Me Café in Indianapolis in February, 2017. She’s a tea lover, appreciates how it brings the community together. What began as a neighborhood café on 22nd Street became a community hub, hosting “communi-tea” events, speakers, and activities for all ages.
The café also provided employment opportunities for young adults, offering professional development and work experience. Over eight years, Tea’s Me hired more than 200 people.
Since then, Catchings has expanded to additional locations and shifted toward a university-focused kiosk model, including a presence at IU Indianapolis and Butler Tarkington.
Catchings wrote:
That space will always hold a special place in our story—it’s where so much love was poured, community was built, and memories were made. While closing a chapter is never easy, it created space for clarity, growth, and new opportunities ahead. We truly believe that 2026 is a year of fresh beginnings, renewed focus, and exciting possibilities for Tea’s Me and the incredible community that surrounds us.
The original café, at 22nd St, closed at the end of 2025. I was there on the last day, Dec. 30, as Catchings celebrated her nine years as owner and all the events held on that site.
Catchings’ community roots date back to her earliest days in Indiana. While rehabbing a torn ACL as a rookie, she and her sister Tauja launched the Catch the Stars Foundation to empower youth in Indianapolis.
Beginning in 2001, the sisters hosted an annual youth basketball camp that became a long-running tradition. Over more than two decades, the camp served more than 5,000 children, emphasizing not only basketball fundamentals but goal setting, teamwork, confidence, and positivity.
Her final camp, after 25 straight years, was held Dec. 27 — a six-hour session that remained affordable and accessible. As always, Catchings stayed afterward to sign autographs and take photos with campers and families before heading to the airport to fly to Baton Rouge, where she served as the ESPN analyst for Alabama State at LSU.
Her final message:
Dreams do come true. And I remember when I was in 7th grade, I made my first goal that I wanted to be in the NBA because the WNBA wasn’t around. And I worked and worked and worked, the WNBA actually came to fruition my freshman year of college. But all that time, I really was preparing to make it to the NBA until the WNBA came. I know we had a lot of hands that were raised in the lunchroom that wanted to be professional athletes. And I know I said that there is like .01% that make it to be professional. There might be somebody in this room — 1, 2, 3 — I don’t know how many, that might get to that next level.
But we all said no matter what that we want to be successful. And when you want to be successful, that means that you work hard at every single thing that you do. So I want to say on behalf of myself and my sister, Tauj, and our foundation, we co-founded the foundation back in 2004, but our first basketball camp was in 2001.
So for us to be standing here 25 years later and have all of our family and friends that came back to be able to help the camp and get it forward, we are blessed to be able to have this opportunity and to serve you guys. It’s been a blessing for us to have this opportunity. For the last 25 years, although we celebrate Christmas, we get ready for camp. For the last two days, she has been doing a lot of work. So, let’s give it up for my sister.
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