University of Tennessee Athletics
CATCHINGS OUT OF ALL-STAR GAME WITH HEEL INJURY
July 10, 2006 | Women's Basketball
July 10, 2006
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever withdrew from the WNBA All-Star Game on Monday after being diagnosed with Achilles' tendinitis in her left heel.
Catchings, a member of the league's All-Decade team, was this year's top vote-getter in fan balloting with more than 115,000 votes. Fever spokesman Kevin Messenger told The Associated Press she would wear a protective boot until being re-evaluated Friday and that she would not participate in any basketball-related activities for at least three-to-five days.
The All-Star Game is Wednesday in New York.
Tangela Smith (Charlotte) and rookie Candice Dupree (Chicago) were selected Monday as replacements for injured starters Catchings and New York's Becky Hammon on the East team. Michelle Snow will fill in for Houston teammate Tina Thompson on the West squad.
Catchings still plans to travel for the All-Star festivities but will miss the 3-point shooting contest in which she was entered.
"The fans voted me to play, and it's really too bad I'm not able to," the four-time All-Star said through a team spokesman. "But you have to look at the long run and, hopefully, it will be a short-lived injury."
Messenger said the tendon is not torn, an injury that could have ended Catchings' season. She ranks among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists and blocks and has annually been one of the WNBA's top defenders.
The injury occurred during Sunday night's game at Seattle when Catchings collided with Lauren Jackson, another All-Star.
Catchings did not realize immediately that she was hurt and finished the game, which the Fever won 74-62. She finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, four steals and one block.
Afterward, she was seen by a team trainer and was diagnosed with the injury Monday after the Fever returned home.
"I didn't think it was that bad," she said. "But I can tell you that it really hurt."
Messenger said it was not known whether she would play Saturday at Charlotte or Sunday at home against Houston.
Catchings is the Fever's second-leading scorer at 15.8 points per game. She also averages 7.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists, and has been one of the league's most popular players.
