Classic WNBA Monday: July 16, 2004 - Detroit Shock at Indiana Fever

Mondays are often slow in the WNBA. This year there are just three regular season games scheduled on a Monday, and that’s actually a lot! There were just three Monday regular season WNBA games from 2015 to 2019 combined!

Sometimes it can be nice to have a day to catch your breath or catch up on a game you missed over the weekend, but if you’re looking to watch some WNBA basketball today, why not catch up with Catch?

Every Monday this WNBA season where there isn’t a game scheduled, I’ll be sending out a classic WNBA game you can find online. I think it’s a fun way to celebrate the league’s 25th season, and for many people it’s likely a first opportunity to see some of the older games and to see some of these players in their prime. These aren’t videos I’ve posted, and I can’t speak to the people who did post them, so they may not be available online forever, but let’s enjoy them while they’re there.

That said, in honor of her Naismith Hall of Fame enshrinement on Saturday night, I thought “Why not find an old Tamika Catchings game?”

First, if you didn’t see her enshrinement speech, check it out here.

Then, here’s the July 16, 2004, game between the Indiana Fever and the Detroit Shock. I liked this one for a few reasons:

• Catchings had a great game with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 made threes, and 3 assists.
• It’s a fun era for the Fever with the following players on the roster with Catch: Olympian and WNBA legend Natalie Williams; Stephanie White, who would go on to coach the Feve;, Deanna Jackson had her career high in this game; and Kelly Miller is so fun to watch with 7 assists in this one.
• The Fever and Shock were always a fun matchup, and the Shock roster is full of WNBA greats in this one: Deanna Nolan with 20 points; Swin Cash with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists; and Cheryl Ford with a quieter game.

There are plenty of Indiana Fever and Tamika Catchings games out there, so look around while you’re at it! If you’re looking for something more recent (and better quality), you can’t go wrong with 2012 WNBA Finals Game 4, when Catchings finally closed out a WNBA championship.

Enjoy your Classic WNBA Monday! Until next time, make sure you’re following @WBBTimeline on Twitter as we all celebrate the WNBA’s 25th season.