A collaboration between Pediment Publishing and\u00a0The Indianapolis Star\u00a0newspaper has led to the book\u00a0Inspiring 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\u2019s gymnastics team at the 1996 Olympics.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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\u201316),\u201d said Woods, who was on staff with the\u00a0Indy Star\u00a0until 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve covered Olympic sports since arriving in Indianapolis in 1994,\u201d Woods said. \u201cMany of the women\u2019s stories have been so compelling.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 1972, I was just a punk kid when there was a track meet \u2014 women\u2019s teams from the United States and Canada \u2014 in Champaign, Illinois, which is where I grew up,\u201d said Woods. \u201cThat\u2019s the first time I got exposed to women\u2019s Olympic sports, not realizing I would be writing about female Olympians for the next 50 years. If you\u2019re going to cover Olympic sports, I went for the best story.\u201d<\/p>\n
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) \u2014 winning a WNBA Championship in 2012 \u2014 and made it home. In the years since her retirement from professional basketball, she\u2019s run a foundation and opened businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very indeterminate who the greatest women\u2019s basketball player of all time is,\u201d Woods said. \u201cI think Tamika belongs in that discussion, especially if you\u2019re going to include both sides of the ball \u2014 offense and defense.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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