Tamika Catchings had to overcome many adversities to become one of the top 15 players of the WNBA. Catchings is deaf and as a child she had a speech impairment. Throughout her childhood, Catchings was teased for her disabilities, and her struggles became harder when her parents divorced later when she was a teenager.

Despite hard times, Catchings went on to play professional basketball for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever. She played in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and won gold medals in both games. Catchings is a five-time WNBA All Star and is the President of the WNBA Players Association.