Pondexter Selected Second Overall in WNBA Draft
Apr 05 | Women's Basketball
BOSTON, MA - Rutgers fifth-year senior Cappie Pondexter (Chicago, IL) became the second overall selection in the 2006 WNBA Draft when she was picked by the Phoenix Mercury April 5 in Boston.
Pondexter's selection was the highest in the WNBA Draft for a Scarlet Knight (Sue Wicks, 1997, sixth, New York Liberty). In addition, she was the second-highest selection ever of a Rutgers student-athlete in a professional draft -- Delby Powless was top overall pick in the 2004 National Lacrosse League Draft (Buffalo Bandits).
'When they said that Phoenix was on the clock, I was getting kind of nervous, but excited nervous,' said Pondexter. 'I'm glad that it's over with, that I get to know where I'm going. I think it's going to be great (playing in Phoenix). I have admired (Diana) Taurasi for a long time, and just having an opportunity to play with her, I think I will learn a lot. She will help me be a great player as well.'
The 2006 Women's Basketball News Service National Player of the Year, Pondexter was named a finalist for all three major national player-of-the-year awards (State Farm Wade Trophy, Naismith and Women's Wooden Award), the Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award and the Nancy Lieberman Award (top point guard). She averaged 21.6 points per contest (sixth nationally as of March 29), adding 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game this season. Named to the Kodak/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America First Team, the Associated Press All-America First Team, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) All-America Team, the Women's Wooden Award All-America Team, the Senior CLASS Award All-America First Team and the ESPN.com All-America First Team, the WBCA National Player of the Month for January was the unanimous choice as the BIG EAST Player of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to be named to the All-BIG EAST First Team four times during her career. The 5-9 guard was selected to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team for the fourth straight year (22.5 ppg), earned a spot on the NCAA Tournament All-Cleveland Region Team (22.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.3 apg) and also received four BIG EAST Conference player-of-the-week awards (Jan. 2, Jan. 16, Feb. 6, Feb. 13) and six berths on the BIG EAST Honor Roll (Nov. 28, Dec. 5, Dec. 12, Jan. 9, Jan. 23, Jan. 30). Pondexter was a frequent member of preseason honor lists this fall, earning first-team All-America accolades from the Associated Press and Women's Basketball News Service, second-team All-America mentions from Gballmag.com, Lindy's and Athlon Sports, and a spot on the Street & Smith's 'Terrific 10' Preseason All-America Team.
Pondexter helped lead No. 9/9 Rutgers to a 27-5 overall record, advancing to the regional semifinals of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. The Scarlet Knights posted a perfect 16-0 mark in BIG EAST Conference regular-season play to win their second straight outright BIG EAST regular-season crown.
She is the ninth Scarlet Knight to be selected during the 10 WNBA Drafts - Sue Wicks (1997, first round, sixth selection, New York Liberty), Usha Gilmore (2000, third round, 42nd selection, Indiana Fever), Shawnetta Stewart (2000, third round, 36th selection, Orlando Miracle), Tasha Pointer (2001, fourth round, 52nd selection, Portland Fire), Tammy Sutton-Brown (2001, second round, 18th selection, Charlotte Sting), Davalyn Cunningham (2002, second round, 23rd selection, Orlando Miracle), Chelsea Newton (2005, second round, 22nd selection, Sacramento Monarchs) and Rebecca Richman (2005, third round, 36th selection, New York Liberty). Wicks was an All-Star during her six seasons in New York (1997-2002), while Sutton-Brown helped lead the Sting to the 2001 WNBA Finals as a rookie, earning a spot on the 2002 All-Star Team. She will begin her sixth season in Charlotte next month. Newton was one of two rookies to start every game last season, helping to lead the Monarchs to the 2005 WNBA title. She was acquired by the Chicago Sky during this offseason's Expansion Draft.
