The NCAA announced Wednesday the recipients of its 2026 NCAA Honors, recognizing extraordinary current and former student-athletes, coaches and administrators whose achievements exemplify the spirit and values of collegiate athletics. Former Tennessee women’s basketball legend Tamika Catchings is among those earning distinction.
This year’s honorees span a wide range of sports, backgrounds and accomplishments, united by their commitment to leadership, resilience and service. The honorees will be celebrated at the NCAA Convention in January in the Washington, D.C., area.
Marking 25 years since the conclusion of their college sports careers, these distinguished alumni are recognized for continued excellence. The Silver Anniversary Award celebrates the achievements and contributions of former student-athletes who have excelled in their professional lives and continue to exemplify the values of collegiate athletics. The other 2026 Silver Anniversary winners joining Catchings include Drew Brees (Purdue, football), Dr. Lauren Witmer (Millersville, women’s tennis) and Nick Ackerman (Simpson, men’s wrestling).
One of six Lady Vols to have her jersey retired, Catchings also is one of only two four-time Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-Americans in program history (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) and earned All-SEC distinction as many times as well. In 2000, she was named Associated Press, Naismith, USBWA & WBCA National Player of the Year and in 2001 the ESPY Awards Women’s Basketball Player of the Year.
Additionally, Catchings was chosen to the 1998 & 2000 NCAA All-Final Four Teams and was named 2000 NCAA Regional Tournament Most Outstanding Player, a two-time NCAA All-Regional Tournament Team member (1999, 2000) and a three-time SEC All-Tournament Team choice (1998, 1999, 2000). She began her collegiate career as the 1998 USBWA Freshman of the Year and the SEC Freshman of the Year.
Catchings helped lead Tennessee to NCAA Final Fours in 1998 and 2000, including an undefeated national championship season in 1997-98 at 39-0. Her UT squads won four SEC regular season titles (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) and three SEC Tournament crowns (1998, 1999, 2000) during her time on Rocky Top.
She remains the No. 4 scorer in program history (2,113) and is sixth in rebounds (1,004), standing as one of only two players in program history with more than 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Additionally, she is No. 3 in career steals (311), No. 4 in career field goals (760), No. 4 in career free throws (471), No. 5 in single-season free throws (165, 1997-98), No. 9 in career blocks (136) and No. 7 in career double-doubles (32).
Starring for the Indiana Fever from 2001-16 after being taken with the third overall pick in 2000, Catchings was the 2011 WNBA MVP, the 2012 WNBA Finals MVP, a five-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012) and a 10-time WNBA All-Star. Additionally, she was a seven-time All-WNBA First Team, five-time All-WNBA Second Team, 10-time WNBA All-Defensive First Team, 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year, 2002 WNBA All-Rookie Team member, three-time Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award winner (2010, 2013, 2016) and a member of the WNBA Top 20@20.
Internationally, she was a four-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist, helping lead her country to victory in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. She is the only Lady Vol basketball player to appear in more than two Olympic Games.
Off the court, she founded the Catch the Stars Foundation to empower underserved youth in Indianapolis, received the ESPN Sports Humanitarian of the Year Award and served as a front-office executive, broadcaster and global ambassador for the sport.
She is an inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the University of Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame, among others. Her No. 24 jersey was retired by both the Lady Vols and the Indiana Fever.
