PISCATAWAY, N.J. (March 31, 2010) - Former Rutgers standout Cappie Pondexter was acquired by the New York Liberty on Tuesday in a multi-player, three-team WNBA trade.
“I started my college career on the East Coast and I’m a city girl, I love New York and its one of my favorite cities next to (hometown) Chicago,” said Pondexter on Wednesday. “There is no other place than New York; it’s a great organization, a great arena, key players – such as Essence Carson and Kia Vaughn – who I had a college career with for two years, Janel McCarville, Nicole Powell and Olympic coach Anne Donovan. It was just a great opportunity to begin something special.”
Pondexter is one of the most decorated players in Rutgers women’s basketball history. The unanimous selection as 2006 BIG EAST Player of the Year and the only player in the league to earn first team honors four-straight years. Pondexter scored 2,211 points during her illustrious career. The Associated Press and Kodak/WBCA All-American concluded her collegiate career ranked in the top-10 in 12 categories in the RU record book.
The three-time All-Star guard was the second overall selection in the 2006 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury. She helped lead Phoenix to two WNBA Championships in the past three years and was named the 2007 WNBA Finals MVP.
The 5-9 guard has a career scoring average of 19.2 points and a career assist mark of 4.1 per game. She finished last season ranked fourth in the league in scoring and third in assists.
Pondexter has enjoyed similar success overseas in the off-season, leading Fenerbahce to the Turkish Cup in two straight seasons and being named Most Valuable Player of the 2007 Euroleague All-Star Game. Pondexter currently plays for UMMC Ekaterinburg, helping lead her team to the 2009 Russian Champions title and the Russian Cup.
The Chicago native was named to the U.S. National Team last summer. She was part of a squad - coached by Donovan - that captured the gold medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
The Liberty, which also acquired guard Kelly Mazzante, sent forwards Shameka Christon and Cathrine Kraayeveld to the Chicago Sky, in exchange New York receives Chicago’s 2010 2nd round draft pick (#16). As part of the deal, Chicago sends forward Candice Dupree to Phoenix.
