The 10-time WNBA All-Star moved past former Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi to become the second-leading scorer in WNBA history. Catchings announced last fall that the 2015 season will likely be her last in the WNBA. She won’t have the opportunity to claim the top spot, sitting at 6,735 points – well behind all-time leader Tina Thompson’s 7,488.
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Thompson was the No. 1 overall pick in the inaugural 1997 WNBA Draft. She then played 16 seasons for the Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm, amassing 7,488 while earning nine All-Star Game berths and winning the 2000 All-Star MVP. The 6-2 former USC forward led the Comets to four straight WNBA titles from 1997-2000.
Catchings was the third overall pick in 2001 after helping Tennessee win a pair of national titles. She led the Fever to a WNBA title in 2012, and she has been the league’s Defensive Player of the Year five times.
She may not even remain in front of Taurasi on the all-time scoring list. Catchings will retire from basketball following the 2016 Olympics and Taurasi is expecting a return to the WNBA following a year playing professionally in Russia. Taurasi has scored 6,722 points over 11 WNBA seasons.
