Prior to our beloved sports world being put on ice thanks to the (you-know-what), the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame announced that Tamika Catchings would be part of its 2020 Class along with Swin Cash, Lauren Jackson and a host of other women’s hoops legends.
That induction ceremony thanks to the (you-know-what) has since been postponed until 2021.
Whenever sports are all-systems-go once again, Catchings will have the opportunity to deliver two Hall of Fame speeches as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced that she will be inducted into its Hall as well.
She was named to the WNBA Top 20 Players in the leagues 20-year history in 2016. In her 14-year career she was a 10x All-Star, 4x Olympic gold medalist and all-time leaders in steals. We congratulate WNBA Champion Tamika Catchings. #20HoopClass pic.twitter.com/quUSIhz1lL
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 4, 2020
𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐎𝐟. 𝐀𝐥𝐥. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞. 🐐
Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Catch 🥇⭐️
📰: https://t.co/g6E2SCGjTm#20HoopClass x #24Forever pic.twitter.com/IdTdT4qCof
— Indiana Fever ⛹️♀🏀 (@IndianaFever) April 4, 2020
“So many words go through my mind just about how grateful and excited I am.”@Catchin24 spoke with @PatBoylanPacers about what it means to be a member of this @Hoophall class 🙌🏾
Full conversation: https://t.co/EptkOVDm7X#20HoopClass x #24Forever pic.twitter.com/oYTti7oBhY
— Indiana Fever ⛹️♀🏀 (@IndianaFever) April 4, 2020
Sending Super Congratulations to my baby sis @catchin24 to say that you are deserving of this honor is an understatement!!!!!!! Welcome to the club Mika!!!!!!! Love love love you!!!!!!! #NaismithHallOfFame… https://t.co/K7vmkVJyou
— Tina Thompson (@IamTinaThompson) April 4, 2020
I am so thankful to stand alongside so many amazing men and women that have come before me.
–Tamika Catchings (release)
From high school to college to the pros and even representing our nation, Tamika has won championships at every level and done it with unmatched professionalism. Our entire organization and our fans couldn’t be more proud of her.
–Rick Fuson, Pacers Sports & Entertainment/COO (release)
Catchings was drafted by the Fever and played her entire career in Indiana with her career reaching multiple milestones – including in 2012 when she led the Fever to a WNBA championship. She also is a 12-time All-Star and four-time Olympic gold medalist in addition to winning a national championship during her college career with the Tennessee Lady Vols.
One of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time will be heading to Springfield with one of the greatest women’s basketball coaches in Kim Mulkey as the three-time national championship-winning coach at Baylor and Los Angeles 1984 Olympic gold medalist will be enshrined into immortality at the Hall.
The Hall called 🤙 and @KimMulkey joins basketball royalty 🏀👑!
Congratulations to Coach Mulkey on her selection to the 2020 Class of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame!https://t.co/uOFmlECYn0#SicEm | #20HoopClass pic.twitter.com/jE5iQQSGwk
— Baylor Lady Bears (@BaylorWBB) April 4, 2020
Kim Mulkey’s resume speaks for itself 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YBEhuOQDZZ
— espnW (@espnW) April 4, 2020
Want to know if the Waco/Baylor community and Lady Bears fans were excited for @KimMulkey?
Check out what happened outside her house at 3PM!#SicEm | #20HoopClass pic.twitter.com/zURUnYWnx4
— Baylor Lady Bears (@BaylorWBB) April 4, 2020
The three championships Mulkey have won at Baylor were in 2005, 2012 and 2019. Along with this, she has taken her Baylor teams to the NCAA tournament on 17 occasions and is also part of the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame.
Mulkey was an assistant with the Techsters from the mid 1980s into the 1990s before becoming head coach in 1996.
Speaking of women’s basketball coaches….
She has coached in the collegiate ranks for over 40 years and is the 5th coach in NCAA women’s basketball history to reach 1,000 career wins. We congratulate 5x Russell Athletic / WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year Coach Barbara Stevens. #20HoopClass pic.twitter.com/d2hXZhVBDZ
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) April 4, 2020
Check out @BentleyWBball Barbara Stevens talk about her upcoming @Hoophall induction! 🏀 #NE10EMBRACE pic.twitter.com/zm2kNFxWyN
— The NE10 (@TheNortheast10) April 4, 2020
In addition to Mulkey, Barbara Stevens, coach of the women’s basketball program at Bentley University will also be on her way to the Hall. She will not have far to go since Bentley is in the same state as the Hall itself in Massachusetts.
The lone non-Division I coach that has amassed 1,000 victories is Stevens and is part of a 1,000-win club that includes Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer, Geno Auriemma, Sylvia Hatchell and C. Vivian Stringer. Stevens is the recipient of five WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year awards and won a Division II national title in 2014.
She was part of the 2006 class of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
The 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Class is being touted as one of – if not – the greatest in history. Along with Catch, Mulkey and Stevens, it also includes Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Rudy Tomjanovich, Patrick Baumann and Eddie Sutton.
Oh…this man is included as well.
“We’re incredibly proud of him.”
Vanessa and Natalia Bryant joined Rece Davis after Kobe’s induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/HX31pyvgPe
— ESPN (@espn) April 4, 2020
It’s official! NBA and Lakers legend Kobe Bryant has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. #MambaForever pic.twitter.com/BGjeQfChne
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 4, 2020
What a journey it’s been. Welcome to the Hall of Fame, Kobe. pic.twitter.com/4tLIttRyaW
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) April 4, 2020
