A collaboration between Pediment Publishing and The Indianapolis Star newspaper has led to the book Inspiring Women of Indiana Sports: They Changed the Games We Love, a collection of articles that sportswriter David Woods has written. Front and center is Caitlin Clark, who became an undeniable presence in Indiana after being selected by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Others go back decades, like gymnast Jaycie Phelps, a member of the gold medal-winning women’s gymnastics team at the 1996 Olympics.

“I decided someone was eligible for this book if they were from Indiana or they went to an Indiana high school or college, or in the case of Tamika Catchings, had played for the Indiana Fever (2001–16),” said Woods, who was on staff with the Indy Star until 2022 and has continued to write as a freelancer. Incredibly, half of the stories he has written over the decades have been about women athletes, including covering the Fever for 16 years.

“I’ve covered Olympic sports since arriving in Indianapolis in 1994,” Woods said. “Many of the women’s stories have been so compelling.”

Woods is grateful that the publisher allowed him to make the book longer than originally envisioned, because there were so many good stories. There are a total of 31 women featured. The book is divided into chapters, with basketball and gymnastics leading the way. Swimming and diving, and track and field, also have a huge presence. From the track world, there is Indy native Ashley Spencer, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in the 400-meter hurdles. Three-time Olympic gold medalist in fencing, Lee Kiefer, closes out the book.

“In 1972, I was just a punk kid when there was a track meet — women’s teams from the United States and Canada — in Champaign, Illinois, which is where I grew up,” said Woods. “That’s the first time I got exposed to women’s Olympic sports, not realizing I would be writing about female Olympians for the next 50 years. If you’re going to cover Olympic sports, I went for the best story.”

Woods said Catchings continues to influence the community. She came to Indiana in 2001 when she was drafted by the Fever (did not play until 2002 due to injury) — winning a WNBA Championship in 2012 — and made it home. In the years since her retirement from professional basketball, she’s run a foundation and opened businesses.

“It’s very indeterminate who the greatest women’s basketball player of all time is,” Woods said. “I think Tamika belongs in that discussion, especially if you’re going to include both sides of the ball — offense and defense.”  

Like this:

Like Loading…

Related