Tamika Catchings Becomes First Women to Receive National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2016, one of the WNBA’s all-time greats on and off the court received another prestigious honor.

Tamika Catchings joined former NBA players Spencer Haywood and Jalen Rose in Memphis on Monday as recipients of the 11th annual National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award, given during a halftime ceremony at the Grizzlies game.

The trio was honored for “their contributions to civil and human rights, and for laying the foundation for future leaders through their careers in sports in the spirit of Dr. King.” Catchings became the first woman ever to receive the award.

Before being honored, she also served on two panels: “Discussion on the Intersection of Race and Sports” presented By FedEx and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Sports Legacy Symposium presented by The Hyde Family Foundation.

Catchings is heading into her 20th and final WNBA season. She founded the Catch the Stars Foundation and serves on the U.S. Department of State’s Council to Empower Women and Girls Through Sports and as the president of the WNBA Players Association.