Tamika Catchings, history maker - encore

<p dir="ltr">With the highly anticipated induction of <strong><a href= "https://www.usab.com/basketball/players/womens/c/catchings-tamika.aspx">Tamika Catchings</a></strong> into the <strong><a href= "https://www.hoophall.com/">Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame</a></strong> coming up this summer, Hoosier History Live is taking a look back at the challenges the <strong><a href= "https://fever.wnba.com/">Indiana Fever</a></strong> legend confronted during her spectacular career as a player, as well as her aspirations for post-Fever life.</p> <p dir="ltr">Since the original broadcast of this show in 2017 - one year after she retired as a player - Tamika has been named general manager and vice president of operations for the Fever. In August, the honor that she has called a "storybook ending" is expected to unfold with her enlistment into the Hall of Fame. </p> <p dir="ltr"><img src= "http://hoosierhistorylive.org/images/Tamika-Catchings-Olymics.JPG" alt= "Tamika Catchings won gold at each of the four Olympic Games she played in between 2004 and 2016. Courtesy Olympics.org" width="282" height="581" align="left" />She will be inducted along with other basketball superstars, including her lifelong friend <strong>Kobe Bryant</strong>, whose posthumous membership comes after he was<strong><a href= "https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/02/us/kobe-bryant-final-hours/index.html"> killed in a helicopter crash in January</a></strong>. During this interview with our host Nelson, Tamika talks about the childhood bond with Bryant that began when they were growing up in Italy, where their fathers played pro basketball.  </p> <p dir="ltr">Tamika went on to be one of the most beloved athletes in Indiana history - and not only because she was considered to have been one of the best female professional basketball players ever. Nor is it merely because she won four Olympic gold medals.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tamika Catchings is regarded as an inspirational figure even by admirers who never have attended an Indiana Fever game.</p> <p dir="ltr