Catchings to return to Fever on Sunday

Jun 12, 2008 - 3:33 PM INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Tamika Catchings will make her season debut Sunday when the Indiana Fever host the San Antonio Silver Stars.

A two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, Catchings had a late start to the season after suffering a torn right Achilles' tendon in Game Three of the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit in September.

That was the second major injury for the five-time All-Star forward last season, who missed 13 regular-season games with a partially torn plantar fascia in her left foot.

With Catchings absent for the start of the season, the Fever won three of their first four games before dropping to 4-3 following a 64-53 loss to San Antonio on Wednesday.

"We've obviously very excited about Tamika's progress," Fever coach Lin Dunn said. "We're thrilled that she'll be back with us on Sunday. We understand that her minutes may be limited, but it will be wonderful to have her on the floor in uniform again. We have certainly missed her 100 percent effort, her leadership and her overall game."

The third overall pick in 2001, Catchings has averaged 17.1 points and 8.0 rebounds in 187 career games over six seasons.