While Tamika Catchings had an illustrious WNBA career, her husband, Parnell Smith, was also a proficient college basketball player.
Born on July 21, 1979, Tamika Devonne Catchings is an American former professional basketball player.
She played her entire 15-year career for the Indiana Fever of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Hailed as one of the greatest female basketball players, Catchings is one of only 11 women to receive an Olympic gold medal, an NCAA Championship, a FIBA World Cup gold, and a WNBA Championship.
After retiring from the WNBA, Catchings worked with Pacers Sports & Entertainment (the owners of the Indiana Pacers, the Fever, and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants) and USA Basketball.
Additionally, she owns three Tea’s Me locations, which are tea bars and cafes located in Indianapolis.
Tamika Catchings and Her Husband, Parnell, Have a One-Of-A-Kind Proposal Story!
Former Indiana Fever small forward Tamika Catchings met her husband, Parnell Smith, serendipitously. The couple tied the knot on February 7, 2016.
In July 2014, the Indiana Fever played against the Los Angeles Spark.
#BlessedAndHighlyFavored It's our anniversary 🎉🎉 So thankful for… you @SmittyP3 #Parnell 2.7.16😍 #Love #ThankfulJourney #MyBestFriend #SoBlessed🙏🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ypj3QZdYhv
— Tamika Catchings (@Catchin24) February 7, 2019
Even though Fever experienced a significant loss, Tamika’s day wasn’t too horrible because she met her future husband that very day.
They met through a mutual acquaintance and immediately felt a connection.
Tamika, who always avoided going out after a defeat, chose to go out with Parnell that day.
They announced their engagement just after a year of dating, demonstrating their undying affection for each other.
However, their proposal tale is incredibly charming and one-of-a-kind. One fine day, Parnell returned to Indianapolis to visit Tamika for a date night.
Even though the former WNBA star preferred driving herself, her boyfriend arranged for a car service to come pick her up.
“And he arranged a car service to come pick me up and I was kind of like, ‘Oh you know I’d rather drive myself. I can drive Downtown.’ ”
Tamika Catchings
She even recalled the reason behind his decision to send her a driver.
“He was like, ‘No, because afterward I want to be able to get in the car together and go home.’ “
Tamika Catchings
So the driver picked up Catchings and dropped her off at a motel. She wondered if she was in the correct location.
Then, Smith appeared in the hotel lobby. He took Catchings upstairs for an exquisite meal at the Eagle’s Nest.
While dining, a waiter questioned whether they were there for a special occasion.
“I looked at him and I’m like, ‘No. No. Just here for date night, the official date night.’ So we had a great dinner. I could tell he was kind of nervous. But nothing happened.”
Tamika Catchings
Nevertheless, Catchings laments that Parnell proposed to her after they returned home rather than during that exquisite dinner.
“And then I got mad. I was like, wait a minute. We were at the restaurant and I was dressed cute and you wait until I look like this? That’s got to be the epitome of great love, right?”
Tamika Catchings
While the proposal didn’t go as she wished, their wedding ceremony was no less than a fairy tale.
They had an intimate and beautiful wedding at the Skyline Club in downtown Indianapolis with only 27 guests.
After their marriage, the couple has been a pillar of strength for each other, supporting and uplifting each other through their shared lives.
Parnell Smith Is Highly Supportive of Tamika’s Career!
Furthermore, their mutual passion for sports and athletics has played a substantial role in bringing them together.
Parnell Smith is a college basketball player himself. He formerly played varsity basketball as a forward for Pike High School in the Indianapolis region.
He also earned first-team All-State accolades as a sophomore. Later, he played at the University of Buffalo.
However, Smith retired after playing in Europe for five seasons and transitioned his career to IT. He works at Windstream Communications as a Project Coordinator.
There is scarce information regarding Parnell’s personal life and family as he maintains a low profile.
Almost time… 🥰 #HOF #Blessed @indianafever @wnba pic.twitter.com/KpGA6tE7LZ
— Tamika Catchings (@Catchin24) May 15, 2021
Similarly, the WNBA legend has kept her married life far from the spotlight.
Moreover, the couple had planned to become parents after Tamika’s retirement from the WNBA. Tamika is also intending for an adoption.
“(Tamika is) very caring, respectful to people. What you see is what you get. The things that she talks about in her interviews and as you see her in the community, she’s really that person that you see – genuine, kind, do whatever for you.”
Parnell Smith
Tamika’s remarkable success post-marriage is evidence of her husband’s unwavering support as she won another WNBA title with the Fever and won gold for Team USA at the Olympics in Brazil.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Tamika Catchings is the daughter of former NBA player Harvey Catchings.
- Her sister, Tauja, is also a WNBA player who played basketball at Stevenson and the University of Illinois.
- Catchings has a hearing impairment.
