The Mass Ave area is seeing a Tamika Catchings painting; cast your vote for your fave here.

In the heart of downtown Indianapolis, where vibrant culture intersects with rich sports history, the Mass Ave Arts District is preparing to honor one of Indiana’s most iconic figures — Tamika Catchings. A new public art initiative is underway to paint a mural dedicated to the legendary Indiana Fever star and WNBA Hall of Famer, and it’s giving the community the chance to help shape the final product.

Catchings, who spent her entire 15-year WNBA career with the Indiana Fever, left an indelible mark not only on the basketball court but also through her tireless work in the community. Her legacy goes beyond four Olympic gold medals, 10 WNBA All-Star appearances, and a 2012 league MVP award. As the founder of Catch the Stars Foundation and an advocate for youth empowerment, education, and fitness, Catchings represents the best of what Indianapolis has to offer.

Now, a mural will ensure her story continues to inspire future generations — and the city is asking residents to help pick the design.

A Canvas for Legacy: The Idea Behind the Mural

The mural will grace a wall in the bustling Mass Ave Cultural District, a neighborhood known for its blend of creativity, commerce, and community. This area has long been a magnet for public art and local expression, featuring everything from jazz musicians to abstract dreamscapes. Adding Catchings to this lineup of local legends and cultural touchstones feels not only fitting — it feels overdue.

The initiative is being led by a collaboration between the Indy Arts Council, the Indiana Fever, and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Catchings herself has been involved in the process, reviewing proposed designs and encouraging fans to participate in the public vote.

According to the Arts Council, over a dozen artists submitted original concepts. After a panel review that included Catchings, her family, Fever representatives, and local curators, the field has been narrowed to three stunning finalists. Each brings a unique perspective on her legacy, blending sport, community, and empowerment in striking visual form.

Meet the Finalists: Three Murals, One Legacy

All three mural designs celebrate different aspects of Catchings’ life and legacy. The public is invited to vote for their favorite via the Indy Arts Council’s website or at in-person kiosks along Mass Ave. Here’s a look at the finalists:

1. “More Than a Game” by Alexis Jones

Jones, an Indianapolis native known for vibrant street art, crafted a mural that showcases Catchings in action during a game, mid-jump shot, surrounded by phrases like “Leader,” “Mentor,” and “Champion.” The background features the Indiana Fever’s signature red and navy palette, layered with silhouettes of young girls playing basketball — a direct nod to her work mentoring youth.

“I wanted this to be more than a sports tribute,” Jones said. “Tamika isn’t just a WNBA legend. She’s someone who gave everything back to this city. That’s what I wanted to show.”

2. “Echoes of a Champion” by Jae Sun Park

Park, a South Korean-American muralist currently based in Chicago, offers a dynamic and dreamlike interpretation. His design shows Catchings in three stages — as a young girl holding a basketball, in her prime wearing her Fever jersey, and as a mentor leading a group of children. The mural blends bold graffiti with soft brushstrokes, giving it a timeless, ethereal quality.

“This mural represents not just Tamika’s timeline, but the ripple effect she’s had,” Park explained. “One person can inspire hundreds, even thousands. That’s what this piece tries to capture.”

3. “Unbreakable” by Reina Castillo

Castillo, a Puerto Rican-American artist known for socially conscious work, created a bold, almost comic-book-style design. It features Catchings breaking through a wall of doubt — bricks flying in every direction — with empowering words like “Perseverance,” “Faith,” and “Resilience” etched into each fallen stone. The mural ends with Catchings standing proudly at a basketball hoop surrounded by Indianapolis landmarks, including the downtown skyline and the Indiana Statehouse.

“Tamika faced so many challenges, including hearing loss,” Castillo said. “Yet she built an incredible career and life. I wanted this to show her smashing through the walls that tried to hold her back.”

Community Response: A Moment for Representation

The announcement of the mural project has already stirred excitement throughout Indianapolis, especially in neighborhoods with strong ties to women’s sports and social equity.

Local organizations such as Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis and the Indiana Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame have voiced strong support. Community members are also reacting positively to the voting process, which invites everyone — from casual passersby to longtime Fever fans — to weigh in.

“This is exactly what public art should be — inspiring, inclusive, and community-driven,” said Sheila Harris, a retired teacher who has lived in the area for over 30 years. “Tamika has done so much for our city. It’s wonderful to see her honored in this way.”

For younger fans, the mural represents something even bigger.

“Tons of murals are about men or abstract ideas,” said 15-year-old Alana Richardson, who plays for a local AAU basketball team. “Seeing someone like Tamika up on a wall, in the middle of the city, makes me feel like I could be next.”

Why Mass Ave? The Intersection of Art and Identity

Mass Ave isn’t just any stretch of road — it’s a creative artery of the city, home to galleries, coffee shops, performance spaces, and local boutiques. It represents a crossroads of old and new Indianapolis, merging the city’s industrial past with a forward-looking cultural scene.

Placing the Tamika Catchings mural in this area is a statement. It elevates women’s sports into the artistic narrative of the city and underscores the fact that athletes — especially women of color — deserve to be remembered not just in stadiums, but in the broader cultural imagination.

“Public art has power,” said Fatima Mann, curator at the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art. “It shapes how we see our heroes. Tamika Catchings deserves a place among the city’s most honored figures.”

What’s Next: Voting, Painting, and the Big Reveal

Voting is open through April 25, and organizers hope to announce the winning design by early May. Once selected, the artist will begin work on the mural immediately, with the goal of completing it in time for the Indiana Fever’s home opener in June.

Catchings, always humble, has expressed gratitude and excitement — not just for the honor, but for what it represents.

“This mural isn’t about me,” she said in a press release. “It’s about the people who helped me get here — my family, my coaches, my teammates, the kids I work with. It’s about showing young girls and boys that they can be anything they dream of. I’m honored and blessed to be part of it.”

Cast Your Vote

Now, it’s your turn. Head over to indyartscouncil.org/tamika or visit the in-person booths at Bottleworks District, Needler’s Fresh Market, and the Cultural Trail hub on Mass Ave. Let your voice be heard.

This mural is more than just paint on a wall. It’s a reflection of who we celebrate — and who we aspire to be. In honoring Tamika Catchings, we’re also telling future generations that greatness, kindness, and courage matter.

Whichever design wins, one thing is clear: Tamika Catchings will soon be immortalized in the heart of the city she helped transform — not just as an athlete, but as a legend.