April 25, 2000

Secaucus, N.J. - University of Illinois senior Tauja Catchings was selected at the WNBA draft held today in Secaucus, N.J. The Phoenix Mercury took Catchings with the fifth pick of the third round (the 37th pick overall).

Catchings was also one of six finalists from District 6 for the Kodak All-America award. Katie Douglas of Purdue, Helen Darling and Andrea Garner of Penn State, Jackie Stiles of SW Missouri and Stacey Thomas of Michigan join her.

Catchings has earned All-Big Ten honors three times, including a first-team honor this year. Becoming the only Illini player to record 1,400 points, 700 rebounds, 300 assists, and 200 steals has highlighted her career. This season Catchings has also recorded seven double-doubles and scored 18 points and seven rebounds in an exhibition game against the U.S. National Team. Catchings had received second-team All-Big Ten honors the previous two seasons. This year she was named Big Ten Player of the Week twice. Catchings ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring and fourth in the league in rebounding in conference play. She scored 23 points vs. Penn State in the Big Ten semifinal

Catchings returns to Champaign this evening and will be on hand for the Illini Basketball Banquet Wednesday night.