Tamika Catchings’ career has been marked by successes that have paved the way to numerous milestones. She’s No. 2 on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list, No. 2 on the all-time rebound list, No. 1 on the all-time steals list and has been named to a WNBA-record 10 All-Star teams. On Monday night, she made even more history – this time in the playoffs.

Catchings guided the Indiana Fever to a 101-89 victory over Elena Delle Donne and the Chicago Sky Monday night, despite a 40-point outing from the league MVP. On the way to the win, Catchings became the first player in WNBA history to score 1,000 points in the postseason. And she did it just as she’s done just about everything throughout her career – casually and confidently.

“It’s great because when you look at that,” Catchings said of the milestone, “it means that our team has been successful and that we’ve been able to make it to the postseason 11 years. Points and all that, I don’t really focus on that. I want to win some more championships.”

Catchings and the Fever set the tone of the game from the opening tip. Cappie Pondexter hit a jumper to give the Sky a quick 2-0 lead, but it was Catchings who quickly knocked down a three on the other end of the floor. From there, it was an offensive outburst from both squads. Delle Donne scored 21 points in the first half and nailed tough look after tough look sweeping across the lane.

Each team traded blows and by halftime both teams were shooting better than 60 percent from the floor. But in the second half, it was Indiana – led, as usual, by Catchings – that eventually pulled away.

“[Catchings] wills our teams and has always willed our teams to do things many don’t think our teams are capable of doing,” first-year Fever head coach Stephanie White said.

Erlana Larkins was dominant on the block in the second half, often getting deep low post position, quickly pivoting and scoring off the glass. She scored 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, and both Catchings and White praised her performance after the game.

As important as the play of Marissa Coleman, Shenise Johnson, Shavonte Zellous and Briann January (the list goes on) were in the Fever’s success story, Tamika Catchings has always been the main character. She left her fingerprints all over the game. Whenever the Fever needed to get a bucket, you could count on Catchings either initiating the action or doing it herself.

“After this year, it becomes the last of everything,” said Catchings, who announced in October that she will retire after next season. “It’s the last offseason coming up. Then after that, it’s the last first game of the season. So really it’s just an opportunity. I’m enjoying my team; I love my teammates. This is a great group of ladies. I’m savoring the moments.”

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Whenever the Sky began to cut into the Fever’s lead in the second half, it was Catchings who was vital to getting Fever players in the right spots, defending well without fouling. Her performance was, simply put, inspired. Now in her second-to-last season, she and the rest of the Fever knew what was at stake: a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, a chance to knock off a Chicago Sky team that ousted the Fever in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals on Indiana’s home floor.

“Catch obviously makes them believe things they never thought they could do, and that’s what makes her so special aside from her talent,” Delle Donne said.

Now the Fever will play for a spot in the WNBA Finals, a place they haven’t been since they won the title in 2012. Washington or New York  awaits in the offing, but if the first round of action was an indication, it doesn’t matter who the Fever play. Catchings’ and the “warrior mentality” White described in her postgame press conference will have Indiana ready for any foe.