WNBA legend Tamika Catchings recently starred in an March Madness-themed ad for Coke Zero Sugar. We caught up with her and talked about the ad, the tournament, and more.
Coca-Cola’s March Madness ad campaign centered around Coke Zero, and featured basketball legends Tamika Catchings and Magic Johnson.
Both players displayed their skills while securing an ice-cold drink from co-stars Lil Dicky and Taco.
We caught up with Catchings to discuss her spot, which you can view here:
Check out the interview below.
Tamika Catchings on her new Coke Zero ad and brand investment in women’s basketball
FanSided: You have starred in plenty of commercials. What was this one like? How was it different from the others?
Tamika Catchings: This was cool. Initially when we even found out just kind of like, the concept that they were going for, for Coke Zero Sugar, for the whole campaign and when I got the script, I’m like oh yeah, this is me. It’s how I am about food in general and drinks, too. The people that know me know that that’s just exactly how I am. I think just being able to have that and the on-set experience was really cool, being able to be with Dave and Travis and getting to know them. All of the Coke Zero Sugar people that were there…a lot of people put in a lot of effort for it and you see it. That was back in October. So it’s kind of like, yeah, you don’t really know what it’s gonna end up being like. And we’re going through all these different cuts and all these different angles. But they did a great job. When the campaign came out, that’s been the coolest thing for me. It’s just how many people have responded, you know, like have talked about it, have made remarks about it…people that have hit me up, some that I know, a lot of them that I don’t know, they have commented on just how good the commercial was. You always want to be successful, right? So that’s great.
FS: You talked about your bit being very you. And one thing that stuck out to me about it was that it focused on your defense. A lot of commercials focused more on the offensive side. Was that something you chose or was that the idea that fits to you? How did that come about?
TC: That’s an idea they pitched and I appreciated it. Like you said, a lot of times you do focus on the offensive side and offensive production. We’re seeing that right now when we’re looking at the games. Caitlin Clark and how she’s been killing it, double-double queen Angel Reese does a lot of the positive things on the offensive end. But I think with this it really does go into defense and it’s just perfect, right? I mean it’s just like the still the perfect move. Just the perfect concept.
FS: What does that mean to you as a former Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best defenders we’ve ever seen? That your ad was focused on that side of the game.
TC: Ah, thank you. Oh, it means a lot. I mean, I think even looking at the campaign and when they approached me and my agent called and was like, ‘Hey, this is the idea that they’re looking at,’ and immediately I fell in love because it’s defense. I can honestly say defense did not become a priority for me until I got to Tennessee! But from there, just being able to play in the WNBA and being able to have the opportunity with the Olympics, that was what I would do for the Olympic team. I mean, we had all these great scorers and not all these scorers wanted to focus on defense. So for me, my mindset was like: ‘This is where I can hone in on and be really productive and be great for my Olympic experience.’ And that’s what it became. But it also translated to the W and really being able to be successful in that realm.
FS: Coke is one of the brands that’s really invested in the women’s game this this year. Both as a former player and is now as a businesswoman, you know what? What does it mean to you to see that taking place? All these brands investing?
TC: It’s awesome. I mean that. When I think about it, in the beginning we fought for being able to get noticed and for people to respect the women’s game. To me, basketball is basketball. Male, female really doesn’t matter, that ball is all that matters. And I think now being able to see just how the women’s game has continued to progress. I would say you look at my generation and even the players that came before me, that allowed me the opportunity to be able to play and make it to the WNBA. They started the WNBA before I got there. Now with these young players, there’s so many different opportunities due to NIL, and then you get to the W but all of the brands are coming around because that. That’s really where it’s at right now and you know, I go back to even thinking about the bubble 2020-2021. 20 What was the 2020? I’m like, what am I? What am I, your 2020?
FS: It all blends together after COVID.
TC: It does, but I think about the bubble and just, I mean I was there, I was at IMG with the ladies and experienced it. But when sports started, it gave people like something to do. You know, we’re all still trapped in their houses and trying to figure out, like, what are we gonna watch on TV? A lot of reruns coming out and all that. But when the games started – NBA games and the WNBA games – then you started seeing all the professional sports get sparked beyond that. And then we go into an amazing women’s basketball season in 2021. I feel like every year you’ve seen the momentum like that, that snowball get bigger and bigger, where people do want to support the women’s game and they wanna come alongside. But now it’s not just about the game itself, but it’s about the individual players and the ones that we continue to market. So I think that’s been great for our game.
FS: The numbers back that up, I’m sure you’ve seen the viewership. From your perspective, how can the people in charge of the women’s game capitalized on this and keep it going?
TC: I think entertaining and continuing to entertain the sponsors and the partners that we currently have, but then still find other ways to engage other partners as well. Even like Coke Zero Sugar and the last few years and the support that they’ve shown and given to the women’s game…I’m looking outside the window [at my hotel] and can see prominent signage all over the city. Outside of our hotel with the Coke Zero Sugar bracket. There’s just like all types of activation, and I think that’s where you capitalize on opportunities and that is something that a brand or a partner is looking for and how do they wanna activate? But how do you also come alongside the women, like the NCAA and WNBA, and continue to make this bigger and continue to build the brand?
Tamika Catchings on March Madness
FS: You had a lot of March success during your time in college. What’s your favorite March memory?
TC: Winning.
FS: Simple as that, right?
TC: Yeah! You know, we went 39-0 freshman year, went all the way to the championship, and won it in Kansas City. I remember, in high school, we went 35-0, won the championship at Duncanville High School in Texas, and then I went to college. And I’m like, man, the last two years are like the greatest years of my life. And then we lost the Purdue. So it’s all good. But, yeah, definitely winning the championship. Not a lot of teams get that opportunity, so it’s cool. Even thinking about the four teams that were here [in 2023], you know? Obviously South Carolina’s been here before, but the other three had never been to the Final Four. And so it’s been really fun to watch the stories and watch the games and watch the players develop.
FS: There’s a lot of debate about this, and I’m gonna ask you as an expert. Who do you think is the best defender in the game?
TC: Ohh. I don’t know. I’d have to think on that. I know Aliyah Boston won Defensive Player of the Year, and she’s good, don’t get me wrong, but as far as like the best best, you know, like somebody that gonna get in you and like lock you down. That’s not what she does. She blocks and protects the rim, or teammates get beat and she’s there to help. That’s a good question. I don’t know.
FS: There’s just so much debate about that, you know, she won four years in a row. And people go back and forth between her and Brea Beal being the best defenders on their team. But that team just has so many, and there’s so many out there, even in the W, so much versatility. So I’d like to ask another expert question: How would you go about slowing down Caitlin Clark?
TC: Woo! Don’t even let her touch the ball. I will say South Carolina tried that. But it’s the angles, like they were face guarding her on the inbound. They passed to a teammate, and she would sprint up the floor. So, I mean, I think it you gotta defend her in the back court. Get her to give the ball up. So let her get the ball in back court let her get the ball and then force her to give it up. That’s a good question. I mean, I. There’s not very many players that were able to reach their average [against me] and that was already my goal. If you averaged 20, I wanna keep you at 10-12 maybe because I gotta sit on the bench every once in a while. But yeah, I don’t know. I think that you gotta figure out a way to get the ball out of hand, but this Joker is crossing half-court with two dribbles and pulling up. That’s kind of hard to stop.
FS: They said her average three-point attempt was almost 26 feet this year. And the way, the way she passes as well, it’s just, really impossible to guard.
TC: How would you guard her?
FS: If it was me, I wouldn’t even try. I’d guard everybody else. Make her be the one person to beat me. We’re not letting [Monika] Czinano get any. Not letting [McKenna] Warnock get any.
TC: That’s what Zia talked about. Zia said we were gonna give Caitlin hers, but then they let everybody else get going. But Caitlin’s court vision – she’s got really good court vision. Her teammates have played so well with her. Like she knows how to deliver the ball before they even get there. That they catch up, especially Monika [Czinano], you know, like they are on the same wavelength.
Tamika Catchings on being honored by the Fever’s new Rebel Edition jersey
FS: You were honored by the new Fever Rebel Edition jerseys. Just wanted to hear what you thought about that, and what it meant to you to be honored like that.
TC: Yeah, it’s cool. I mean basketball chose me and, you know, especially when I did the speech for the Hall of Fame…thinking about what the game has given me, even to this day. It was the ball back then, but as life has transpired and so many great opportunities have continued to come. I think it’s also, too, about legacy. You know I talked about the players that came before me that allowed me the opportunity and the players even that came before them that don’t get the recognition that have been a part of our women’s game. I mean I think about all of that. And the jersey is nice! When I saw it on my ohh, my gosh. And it goes through the history, starting with Birch by and then, you know, getting the WNBA team. Getting to 09, getting to the championship with Phoenix, even though we lost in game five and then, you know, being able to win in 2012 and then 2020, the speech. So it’s awesome. I’m truly honored and humbled and I would there when we were planning it. So it’s weird not being there now like being on the outside of the seeing it. But I’m like as long as they get a jersey, I’m good.