Earlier this week the nominees for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame were announced, players like Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett headlined the list. The Naismith nominees also included four great women, Tamika Catchings, Becky Hammon, Swin Cash, and Baylor Lady Bears, head coach Kim Mulkey who was nominated as a player and a coach.
Tamika Catchings
Tamika Catchings played her college basketball at Tennessee under the late great Pat Summit. While at Tennessee, Catchings won a national championship in 1998. She was drafted in 2001 by the Indiana Fever with the third pick overall. Catchings played 15 seasons with the Fever and led them to a WNBA championship in 2012 against the Minnesota Lynx. Catchings ended her career first all-time in steals and third in points scored. She finished with a career average of 16.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game, Catchings is 12-time All-WNBA team selection, 10-time All-Star and also won WNBA and WNBA Finals MVP. The former fever superstar is a member WNBA Top 20@20 team.
Becky Hammon
Becky Hammon started her WNBA career with the New York Liberty before moving on to the San Antonio Stars. Hammon averaged 13.9 points for her career; she was known for her outside shot. Hammon shot 37% from three-point land in 16 seasons. Hammon is a six-time All-Star, four-time WNBA team selection, and is also a member of the WNBA 20@20 team. The Stars player is now an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs; someday, she may become a head coach in the NBA.
Swin Cash
Swin Cash played her college ball at UConn, coached by Geno Auriemma. At her time at UConn, Cash won two national titles in 2000 and 2002. Cash then carried her winning ways to the WNBA, becoming a three-time WNBA champion, two with the Detroit Shock and one with the Seattle Storm. Cash played 15 seasons, made the All-Star game four times, and was an All-Star MVP twice. Also, Cash made two All-WNBA teams and is a member of the WNBA 20@20 as well. The former WNBA star went on to be a fantastic basketball analyst and now is Vice President of basketball operations and team development for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Kim Mulkey
Kim Mulkey played her college ball at Lousiana Tech and won two National championships in her time there. Mulkey became the head coach at Baylor in 2000, since taking over, she has won three national championships and coach of the year two times. She is a fantastic coach and could win more championships in the years to come and is very deserving to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame.
