Catchings won a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images

Tamika Catchings, United States

Position: F
Born: Jul 21, 1979
Height: 6-1 / 1,85
Weight: 167 lbs. / 75,7 kg.
College: Tennessee '01

Tamika Catchings has been involved with USA Basketball since she was in high school. The 6-1 guard, who was born in Stratford, N.J. is entering the 2006 World Championship with four gold medals and one silver medal already under her belt. Catchings received her first gold medal at the 1997 FIBA Junior World Championship before going on to win the 1998 R. William Jones Cup, 2002 FIBA World Championship, and most recently the 2004 Olympics. In 57 career games with USA Basketball, Catchings has averaged 9.0 points and 5.3 rebounds.

Catchings was selected third overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2001 WNBA Draft after winning the Naismith Award following her senior season at the University of Tennessee. After being forced to sit out her rookie year due to injury, Catchings came back a year later and finished the 2002 season with averages of 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists and was named Rookie of the Year. Catchings has won two consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2005 and 2006, and has led the WNBA in steals three times. In 166 regular season games, the four-year veteran has averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.51 steals. In nine career playoff games Catchings has averaged 17.6 points and 9.0 rebounds.