Catchings honored to make USA team one final time

INDIANAPOLIS (2016 Rio Olympics) - Tamika Catchings has lived and breathed international basketball for nearly two decades as a member of the USA Basketball program. This August, she has an opportunity to sign off in style.

Catchings, 36, has a chance to become an Olympic champion for the fourth time in her career. Recently named a member of the USA squad that will play at the Rio de Janeiro Games, the 1.85m small forward will join illustrious company because the only other USA basketball greats to have played in at least four Olympics were Teresa Edwards (five) and Lisa Leslie (four).

Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi were also named on the 2016 roster and will play a a fourth Olympic Games.

It's absolutely amazing and definitely an honor to be able to represent the USA one last time, especially knowing from the beginning, where I started on the junior team and my goal of being an Olympian. And now, here I am with the opportunity of being on a fourth Olympic team. I definitely would never have dreamed that, but it is definitely so rewarding, and I'm just honored. - Catchings

Catchings did not play in the USA team that reached the top of the podium at the 2014 FIBA Women's World Championship. That team was loaded with talent and there was no guarantee that she would be in the side to travel to Brazil this year.

The 1.85m forward did take part in the USA minicamp in February, however. While there, she revealed herself to be the same player, the reliable superstar. She helped her cause with outstanding effort.

Tamika Catchings (USA) practiced with the national squad in February

In her previous Olympics, Catchings played at the Summer Games in Athens in 2004, in Beijing in 2008 and in London in 2012. The USA defeated Australia in the Final of the first two and France four years ago in Britain.

At each of those Games, the New Jersey native did what was needed to win games. That meant scoring points, coming up with steals, grabbing important rebounds or cheering from the bench.

Catchings says there was one teammate early in her USA career that helped her grow into player that she is today. The teammate was a leader in the sides of the American teams that won the title at the 2002 FIBA Women's World Championship and the 2004 Olympics.

"The person I learned from the most was Dawn (Staley)," she said. "Until I was around her, I never really knew from a player's standpoint what a true leader was. I've had people around me who have been great and helped guide me, but as far as my first time with the USA senior team, it was definitely Dawn. She taught me how leaders carry themselves, how leaders are able to bring all different players together to focus on one goal."

Catchings wants to be regarded by others in the same way as Staley, that she handled herself well and did things the right way. The Indiana Fever great wants to be remembered as a leader.

"I always try to give 110 percent," said the player who recently began her 15th and final WNBA campaign with the Fever. "Being professional, representing the USA, the way we carry ourselves and the way we act, every single thing about us plays into, whether we're with the USA team or whether we are with our own WNBA teams or overseas or whatever the case may be, I've always told our Olympians and I've always told our players, once you're on this Olympic team you represent the USA no matter where you are. That is a huge responsibility.

"For me when I walk away, the way that I played and the way that I worked with every single player who's come through that USA Basketball family, I just want to be known as a great leader as far as caring about everybody and doing what I'm supposed to do on the court and off the court as well."

FIBA