Lady Vol Fans Preview “CATCH98” Before Its SEC Network Debut Tonight
Lady Vol legend and SEC Network analyst Tamika Catchings celebrated at Knoxville premiere of film revisiting Tennessee's 1997-98 title run
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – More than 450 Lady Vol faithful filed into the University of Tennessee’s Student Union Auditorium Tuesday night for a showing unlike any other. A film that was years in the making about one of the greatest LVFLs (Lady Vols For Life) of all time, Hall of Famer and SEC Network analyst Tamika Catchings, was set to debut. Some fans traveled more than half a day to Knoxville just to “catch” a glimpse of Catchings, her teammate Kellie Jolly Harper – now the head coach of the Lady Vols – and filmmakers Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern Winters.
T-Mobile presented both Tuesday’s exclusive SEC Storied premiere here and Thursday’s televised debut of “CATCH98” (7 p.m. ET | SEC Network), teaming up with SEC Network to provide a special experience for fans and invited guests.
The quartet joined SEC Network on-air personality Dawn Davenport for a post-film Q&A to discuss the making of the film, what it was like to play for a legend like Pat Summitt, and the impact Catchings has had on her teammates, the city of Knoxville and the basketball community as a whole. | UT’s recap of “CATCH98” premiere
Following the exclusive Knoxville premiere, a Q&A took place to dive in deeper to the filmmaking process and what it was like for Catchings and Harper to watch that special year unfold on screen. (L to R): Lisa Lax, Nancy Stern Winters, Dawn Davenport, Tamika Catchings, Kellie Jolly Harper (Randy Sartin/ESPN Images)
A crowd of more than 450 Lady Vol faithful, invited guests and VIPs came together at the University of Tennessee’s Student Union Auditorium, with CATCH98 earning the honor of the first film to be shown in the state-of-the-art facility (Randy Sartin/ESPN Images)
The star of CATCH98, Catchings, stayed for more than an hour following the screening to sign autographs and meet fans. (Randy Sartin/ESPN Images)
For 30 minutes following the film, event emcee and SEC Network commentator Dawn Davenport led a Q&A session; (L to R): Davenport, Catchings, Harper, Lax and Winters (Randy Sartin/ESPN Images)
Before the screening, Catchings and Harper spoke with the media to promote the film and the 50th anniversary of Title IX (Amanda Brooks/ESPN PR)
In addition to autographed movie posters and T-Mobile portable chargers, fans were treated to various T-Mobile and Tennessee-themed treats, including CATCH98 chocolate bars featuring the key art of the film. (Amanda Brooks/ESPN PR)
