If things feel unseasonably hot in Indiana this summer, you can blame Tamika Catchings. That's because the Fever's starting forward has been burning up the opposition like a match to kindling, showcasing the skills that made her the WNBA's third overall pick in the 2001 draft.

With 23 and 27 points scored in the first two contests of the season, and 19 rebounds combined, the 6-0 forward's performance so far has reassured fans who wondered how a year on the sidelines her rookie season would impact her game. Catchings sat out last season due to both a carry-over ACL injury from her senior collegiate season and a cartilage tear in her right knee late last season.

But today this former University of Tennessee ESPY College Player of the Year, four-time All-American, and Naismith Player of the Year looks unstoppable. Thankfully, she did stop for a quick chat with Gball, where she talks about the upside of being off the court last season, the Fever's renewed vigor this season, and how she got past her injuries.

Gball: Has the year delay to prove your merit created any pressure on you this season?
Catchings: I think it would have been harder starting straight out of college. And I say that just because I've had a year to be around the game, be around my teammates, and see the game and what's happening from the sidelines, rather than being thrown out there and having to learn stuff from the get-go. So in a way, my time off was a blessing in disguise.

When you were injured, what goals did you set for yourself, knowing that your participation in practices was going to be limited?
When I first got there, I was told I'd be back by June. And when June came, I was told me I'd be back by July. So I ended up with monthly goals. First I wanted to start running. Then, once I could do that, I wanted to start jumping. But they were short term goals. Obviously, my ultimate goal was to be back on the court playing by the end of last season. But that didn't happen because I got hurt a second time. So I had to start over again and start all new little goals.

Was that a tough psychological hurdle?
The second injury definitely was. I was right there, nearly better, and when that second injury happened, I was devastated. I was thinking, "Oh my God, I'm in a new surrounding, everybody has already been waiting on me to get back to playing, and now this happens. Now I know I'm not going to be back this year. And I'm going to have to wait all offseason to come back."

So how did you stay motivated?
When the season was over, I went back to Tennessee for a little bit and worked out. Then I got my invitation to try out for the USA World Championship Team. I was already pushing myself to get better, because I was thinking about going overseas in January to play, but that invitation was another motivation. Then a job opportunity came through with the Fever to do marketing for the club, so I did that. In the meantime, I trained and trained to get ready to play. I also competed in another basketball league, the National Women's Basketball League (NWBL), and played for a team in Chicago right before I went to the USA tryouts, so that helped me a lot to get my confidence back.

Since you weren't able to compete or practice as much, what did you do to stay part of the team?
It was really hard. You go from knowing all the players in college and spending all your time with them to a totally new environment. People are thrown in from every team. At Tennessee, we weren't the biggest fans of Connecticut, but here in the WNBA, you are with Connecticut folks, Purdue folks, you just get thrown in with all these players you're used to playing against. So it's a different situation.

It was really tough for me. I tried to stay positive. Every day I came in positive on the outside. But I was sad inside, because it's hard to tell your teammates, "You guys are doing this and that wrong," when you can't actually be on the court with them. But the team allowed me to go on some of the road trips with them, so I got to spend some time with them that way, and in the locker room.

What do you think this year's additions are going to bring to the team?
We've all obviously brought a lot more excitement. Nikki and I both work tremendously hard during every practice, so I think we've raised the level in practices and games for our team to work hard. We also run, and we have a deep bench. It's going to be fun.

A recent article on WNBA.com speculated that we may soon see the first dunk in a WNBA game. Why do you think there's all the hype about it?
Because it's been in the men's game for so long. And whenever you ask a guy what he'd like to see in the women's game, everybody always says "I'd like to see them dunk it." So that's become a big deal. Men are just intrigued to see women dunk, for whatever reason.

Is there thinking out there that it can't be done?
I think they know it can be done, but it hasn't been a big deal to the women players. It's just now becoming something people are focusing on. But a dunk is still only two points, so I don't get the big deal. It could happen in a game soon. There are quite a few players in the game who can dunk, who have the height and the vertical to do it. It's just a matter of feeling comfortable doing it.

Does the WNBA need dunks to gain credibility or recognition?
Maybe. I think it's gotten to a point where they want it to happen because it will definitely attract more male fans to our game. And that will widen the horizon and let more spectators in.

With the recent transfer of Nikki McCray to the Fever, what's it like having a fellow Tennessee alum on the team?
It's fun. Nikki works hard, and she comes to practices and games ready to play. I'm a serious basketball player. I like to play with people who have the same enthusiasm that I have, and she definitely has that. Between the two of us, I think we've definitely raised the bar for this team. There's so much more excitement on the court this season, and it seems like everybody has fun in practice, in games, off the court, on the court. We just have fun together everywhere.

Do you think that shared enthusiasm and work ethic comes from having both played under Pat Summitt at Tennessee?
Yeah. Pat doesn't recruit people who don't have a strong work ethic. But we also both just have a love of the game. From the get-go, both of us have loved playing basketball, so we've each always worked hard at becoming the best player we can. From that standpoint, we're definitely the same.

Who do you think you're going to most enjoy playing against this season?
I'm just enjoying being on the court. I really don't care who we face. Ask me again next year, after I've had a year in the league. But this season, I'm really, really excited about being out here and being able to play after sitting out a season as well as half of my senior year of college. Every day I go out there, I just smile because I'm having so much fun.

What do you enjoy most about your new home and the WNBA?
Indiana is nice. There's enough to do without there being too much to do. I'm just a real chill, laid-back person, so I can basically live anywhere and be fine. The people in Indiana are real nice, the fans are super cool, and it's a basketball state. So I'm in the perfect place.

This past offseason kept you pretty busy. Tell me about it.
I did a lot of appearances for the marketing department here. I was kind of the spokesperson for the team, and I loved that. I love being around kids. And I got to speak a lot and do some clinics.

I also held my first camp this year during Christmas. I set everything up myself. It was totally independent from the Fever. I'm going to try to make it an annual thing. But I love doing things in the community and being around kids in general. so I had a lot of fun this offseason.

What's your prediction for the team this year?
Well, hopefully, we'll make it to the playoffs. Our goal is to be playing for a championship, so hopefully that will happen.

What are the strengths the Fever have going for it?
Our bench is deep, and I think we're a real scrappy team. But our defense is the best thing we have going for us, because we all play defense together and help each other well.

What about weaknesses?
I can't tell you that! Then you'll publish it and opponents will know!

How's your knee now that you're back on it. Any hesitation?
Not really. That was the first thing I knew I'd have to overcome, the mental obstacle. That's the hardest thing. But being able to play in the NWBL earlier this year helped my confidence a lot and helped me get over any hesitations real quick. And then going to the USA tryouts, and then coming back to the Fever--I've had a lot of things to go through to get to this point.

Interview conducted by Gball Editor Shelly Wilson.


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