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Tamika Catchings just made a jaw-dropping career pivot. The WNBA legend is joining USA Network as a commentator for 50 games this season. After a decade away from broadcasting, she cannot imagine life without it.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Coverage Deal: USA Network signed multi-year deal with WNBA through 2036, with 50 games annually
- Historic Move: Tamika Catchings never planned to enter broadcasting when she retired from the WNBA over 10 years ago
- Tennessee Connection: Catchings reunites with Lady Vols teammate Chamique Holdsclaw as studio analyst
- Game Format: Wednesday night doubleheaders will anchor USA Network coverage, plus playoffs and Finals
From Player to Powerhouse Broadcaster
Tamika Catchings never imagined she would become a television voice for women’s basketball. The Indiana Fever legend retired in 2016 after 16 legendary seasons. She was the WNBA’s second all-time scorer and rebounder, with records for steals and free throws. But everything changed in 2017 when a producer asked her to try analyzing college games for the SEC Network.
“If you don’t like it, I’ll take you off the schedule,” that producer told her. Catchings fell in love instantly. She discovered she loved broadcasting because there were no aches and pains waiting for her. No more ice baths or treatments. Just authentic analysis and storytelling.
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Tamika Catchings joins USA Network as WNBA commentator for 50 games
Why USA Network’s WNBA Deal Changes Everything
USA Network is signaling serious commitment to women’s basketball. The network signed a multi-year partnership that runs through 2036, with 50 games per season. The deal includes WNBA playoffs and Finals coverage in select years. This is massive momentum for a league that barely received national television attention during Catchings’ playing days.
Catchings recognizes the seismic shift. “We’ve come so far,” she said. The WNBA now has the infrastructure, viewership, and broadcast partners that seemed impossible 10 years ago. Wednesday night doubleheaders will be the foundation, bringing consistent primetime coverage to fans nationwide.
Analyst Profile and Coverage Details
| Detail | Information |
| Network | USA Network |
| Games per Season | 50 |
| Format | Wednesday doubleheaders, playoffs, finals |
| Contract Term | 2026-2036 |
“I love about broadcasting is I’m not on the floor, I don’t have to ice, get treatment. I go to bed without any aches and pains. I love being able to showcase the women that we see.”
— Tamika Catchings, WNBA Legend and USA Network Analyst
A Lady Vols Reunion Nobody Expected
Catchings is thrilled to reunite with Chamique Holdsclaw, her former Tennessee Lady Vols teammate. Holdsclaw joins USA Network as a studio analyst. The duo last worked together in college, making this professional reunion genuinely historic. Both are Hall of Famers entering the Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2026 (announced just April 4).
“I’m going to be able to team up with my old teammate Chamique,” Catchings said. “We get to be together again for the first time since college which was insane.” Two of women’s basketball’s greatest legends are finally sharing broadcast booth duties.
What Does This Mean for Women’s Basketball’s Future?
The WNBA is attracting more investment and visibility than ever before. Catchings played during an era when women’s basketball struggled for national television partnerships. Today, networks compete for broadcast rights. The league has explosive young talent like Caitlin Clark, expanding markets, and growing fan engagement.
Catchings emphasizes the momentum is undeniable. “People want to feature the WNBA,” she explained. The presence of Hall of Famers in the broadcast booth elevates credibility and storytelling. USA Network’s investment signals that women’s basketball is no longer a secondary offering. It is now appointment television.
