The Liberty have a new torchbearer.
Acquired in Tuesday’s three-team trade from the Phoenix Mercury, all-star guard Cappie Pondexter immediately will become the new face of the Liberty when the season begins. The Rutgers star returns East, having won two WNBA championships. She also was the WNBA Finals MVP in 2007.
“The Liberty is thrilled to have acquired Cappie Pondexter, one of the top players in the world, in what is truly a franchise changing acquisition,” Liberty president and general manager Carol Blazejowski said. “Rarely do you get the opportunity to trade for a player of this magnitude, as Cappie is a proven winner with championship experience and a perennial WNBA All-Star.”
“I’ve been with Phoenix my whole entire professional career. It was definitely tough,” Pondexter said during a conference call yesterday. “For me in life, I’m all about opportunity and growth and New York, for me, is the place to be. We had a lot of great times, but I’m ready to start something new in my career.”
The Liberty also acquired guard Kelly Mazzante and Chicago’s 2010 second-round draft (No. 16 overall) pick, while sending veterans Shameka Christon and Cathrine Kraayeveld to Chicago. Pondexter, the No. 2 pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft, finished last season No. 4 in scoring and No. 3 in assists in the league. She has career averages of 19.2 ppg and 4.1 apg.
“I’m a city girl. I love New York. It’s one of my favorite cities and it was a great opportunity for me to start something new,” Pondexter said. “I think it’s a great opportunity to be part of something special. I’m more than excited. I’m ready to take this adventure on and bring a winning mentality to the Liberty. I think it’s gonna be a great season.”
Though Pondexter will be a new face for fans, she will have much more familiarity in the locker room. Pondexter was a teammate of two Liberty players at Rutgers (Essence Carson and Kia Vaughn) and played under head coach Anne Donovan on the gold medal-winning team in 2008.
“She is a marquee talent, the ultimate competitor and will make a big impact for the Liberty at both ends of the floor,” Donovan said.
Without a big impact from their new star, the Liberty, who finished last in the Eastern Conference last season, will be in danger of missing the playoffs for the third time in five years.
But Pondexter, who has won throughout her career, has bigger goals than just the playoffs.
“My focus is winning a championship in New York,” Pondexter said. “That’s what my goal is. That’s what I see happening.”