Indy Arts Council and WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee Collaborate on Tamika Catchings Mural

This summer, Indianapolis will celebrate one of its most beloved sports figures with a new portrait mural honoring WNBA legend Tamika Catchings. A collaboration between the Indy Arts Council and the WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee, the mural will be located in the Mass Ave neighborhood and is set to become a lasting tribute to Catchings’ impact on and off the court.

To ensure community involvement in the process, the public is invited to help select the final mural design through an online survey, open until April 13.

Catchings, a Naismith Hall of Fame inductee and WNBA icon, spent all 16 seasons of her professional career with the Indiana Fever. She played in 10 WNBA All-Star games, won four Olympic gold medals, and led the Fever to a national championship in 2012. Beyond her playing career, she served as president of the WNBA Players Association from 2012 to 2016 and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2020.

Now an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and basketball executive, Catchings owns three Teas Me cafes in Indianapolis and co-leads the Catch the Stars Foundation, which focuses on youth development through sports, literacy, and character-building programs.

"Being part of this process is truly humbling and it’s such an honor to be recognized in this special way, especially in the city I call home," said Catchings, who is also serving as co-chair of the WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee. "Basketball has given me so much, but my greatest passion has always been giving back, lifting up the next generation, and inspiring others to chase their dreams. This tribute isn’t just about me; it’s about the power of perseverance, teamwork, and believing in something bigger than yourself. I hope this mural will serve as a daily reminder that with hard work and heart, anything is possible."

An international call for artists was conducted in late 2025, resulting in four finalists selected to create concept designs. Each artist had the opportunity to meet with Catchings to gain insight into her personality and legacy. The finalists are:

• Aziza Andre, Atlanta, Georgia

• Nate Baranowski, South Bend, Indiana

• Lula Goce, Galicia, Spain

• Desiree Kelly, Detroit, Michigan

  
  

The mural is funded by a grant from the Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County and will be displayed on a residential building owned by Buckingham Companies at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave., New Jersey St., and Michigan St. It will stand next to the existing Etheridge Knight mural and is expected to remain in place for at least 15 years under the ownership and maintenance of the Indy Arts Council.

The mural’s unveiling will coincide with Indianapolis’ hosting of the WNBA All-Star 2025 on July 18-19, adding a meaningful artistic highlight to the city’s celebration of women’s basketball.