Three-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings is retiring after the 2016 Rio Games.
"Yes, I will be retiring in 2016, Lord willing, if my body holds up." Catchings said in an email to The Associated Press on Friday morning. "Although I plan to step away as a player, that is not to say I'll step away from the game, hopefully."
The Indiana star still will be playing for two more WNBA seasons. Catchings has played her entire WNBA career with the Fever, winning her lone title with the team in 2012.
"I know Tamika is relieved to get this announcement out; she has talked informally about wanting to play through the 2016 season as she continues to look at what is next in her extraordinary basketball career," Fever President and General Manager Kelly Krauskopf said. "I am proud that she will have played her entire career in an Indiana Fever uniform."
Catchings was drafted in 2001, but had to sit out the season while recovering from a torn ACL. She went on to be rookie of the year in the WNBA the next season. She's guided the team to playoffs in 10 straight seasons, including the 2012 title year.
She first publicly discussed her retirement plans on Indiana television station WTHR at a charity event on Thursday.
The five-time WNBA defensive player of the year is sitting out of the world championship after missing the first 17 games of the WNBA season with back problems, one of a variety of issues the 35-year-old Catchings had to overcome. She has clearly made her mark on the defensive end of the court. Catchings is the WNBA's all-time leader in steals, nearly 200 in front of the next closest player.
