Check out Nick Hamilton for NHExperience TV’s interview with Cappie Pondexter on the Olympic team, the mid-season break, and the second half of the 2012 WNBA season.
September 1, 2012
NHExperience TV
Author: Administrator
August 23, 2012
iHoops Q&A w/ Cappie Pondexter
Author: Administrator
By Ryan Wood, iHoops.com
Cappie Pondexter has enjoyed a professional basketball career many girls strive for.
The 5-foot-9 guard out of Rutgers has played six years in the WNBA and has been one of the league’s best players each season. Her best scoring output came in 2010, her first year with the New York Liberty. That season, she averaged 21.4 points per game and hit a career-best 43 percent of her 3-point shots.
Pondexter was so determined to make the WNBA that when she was in high school in Chicago, she had a WNBA logo tattooed on her arm with the word “The Future” above it. True to her ink, she’s now one of the league’s best players.
Recently, Pondexter answered questions for iHoops.com on the day-to-day responsibilities of being a professional basketball player. Her answers are below:
What does it take to be a successful professional basketball player?
It takes hard work, commitment and a lot of passion.
What kind of sacrifices do you make to have a WNBA career?
The biggest is not being able to be around family and missing vacations.
What’s a typical game day like for a WNBA player? What’s a typical off day like?
On game days, I wake up and go to shootaround, eat a good meal, taking a nap then shower and listen to gospel music on the way to the arena.
On off days, I get treatment on any injuries and relax. I might head into the city to shop around and see what’s happening in the stores, or lay low and watch a movie.
What do you eat on a typical game day? What do you eat on a typical off day in the season? What do you make sure to keep in mind as far as nutrition goes?
I don’t like to feel and eat heavy before games, If I can get a Subway sandwich that’s the most amazing thing ever. If I can’t get that, the chef will cook pasta or chicken.
What is the toughest shot to defend? Who’s the best at shooting that shot? What are different ways to defend a player with an “unguardable” offensive move?
Diana Taurasi is the toughest, her release is so quick and can shoot from so deep. It’s hard to figure out where to stop her because she can drive too. Just stay aggressive and give it your all, your best. Whatever happens, happens.
August 13, 2012
URBAN INK FEATURE
Author: Administrator
Cappie Pondexter – Driving The Lane
With only her sixth season of pro ball for the WNBA in the books, Cappie Pondexter is already recognized as one of the greatest players in the league’s history. After leading the Phoenix Mercury to two championships in three years, Cappie took off for the Big Apple and now runs the offense for the New York Liberty.
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Cappie envisioned reaching stardom as a basketball player at an early age and began inking symbols of her goals and dreams on her skin to keep her from straying off the path to greatness.
URBAN I
NK: Some athletes get tats of their team or college logos. You got the WNBA league logo inked to your arm. Why did you choose to do that?Cappie Pondexter: I got that before I even made it to professional basketball. I got that tattoo when I was in high school. It was more like, you know, how you have certain things that inspire you? To me it was inspiration. It was something that I wanted to do. I knew when I started playing basketball that I wanted to play professionally. When the WNBA came around I got it, so when I was feeling down or I wasn’t going hard enough, I just looked down at the tattoo and knew, “I just gotta get there. I just gotta make my dreams come true.”
Can you tell me about the work on your back?
It says, “To whom much is given, much is required.” Basically my mom told me that through much of my basketball career. When you’re given a higher position, a lot is required from you on a day-to-day basis. It really, really means a lot. You don’t really have any off days. When you’re off you have to give back to charity. You have to go to this; you have to go to that. And sometimes, you may not feel like it, so that quote always meant something to me. I chose this path. I chose this position, so a lot is required from me, and I have to make it happen – no matter what, by any means.
Is faith also an inspiration for some of your ink?
I am religious to a certain point. I have one tattoo, the beginning of each word is capitalized and it spells out FAITH. Basically through everything, you gotta have faith and believe in whatever gets you through your path and toward what you want to accomplish.
Who does your work?
I have several artists. I have a lot of work from the Tattoo Factory in Chicago. I almost always go there for my ink. I also travel a lot, so I got a tattoo in Moscow; I got a tattoo in Istanbul and in Miami.
Do you ever consider that your life and career have become a source of inspiration for the next generation of female athletes?
Oh yeah, I am always thinking about that. When I was growing up there weren’t that many popular players around like that. You know, maybe a few, but it wasn’t how it is now. You know, we have a kind of unique opportunity to open the doors for these young girls. I’m always thinking about them. Even after games it’s kind of hard to interact with fans and sign autographs. But that autograph that you sign, that picture that you take, might just be the thing that makes that girl’s dream come true.
The NBA gets some criticism because of heavily tattooed players. They say the ink sets a negative example for kids and fans. As a WNBA player, does how your ink might be perceived concern you?
I think at one point it was looked upon as a bad thing, but now tattoos are starting to become such a huge part of our culture. Whether you’re looking at hip-hop artists, unique urban culture and fashion, it’s starting to become a “look.” But on the female side, my tattoos are a little bit softer. I don’t have sleeves. A lot of times when I go to appearances or I go to business meetings, you can’t really see my tattoos. You might know about them, but they’re not visible to the world.
What I think is, if you want to get a tattoo, get it. I don’t think people should judge you about what tattoos you have. I think it should be about your character. That’s my opinion.
Have you enjoyed your time with the Liberty? Do you have any regrets leaving Phoenix?
It’s been great. I mean a lot of people don’t understand the reason why I left Phoenix; but in my first year in New York we had an amazing season. Our ticket sales went up, our fan base went up. Now this year we ended up having a new coach, a new general manager, they’re renovating the (Madison Square) Garden. So we have that foundation of things behind us, and we have the potential to win championships. We have a great team, and we work really hard. I’m excited.
You were named one of the 15 greatest players in the history of the WNBA. What has achieving an honor of that magnitude meant to you?
You know, sometimes when you’re in the moment you really don’t think about the accomplishment. But yeah, it’s such a huge honor. I’m only in my sixth season and already I’ve made the top 15 players in WNBA history. To me, it’s amazing and it motivates me to work even harder. If this is where I’m at now, I can’t imagine where I’m going to be maybe six years down the line. I’m excited about the growth, and I’m going to continue to push myself to the limit.
Do you have any fears about how the NBA lockout might affect the future of the WNBA?
Actually, there are only a few teams that are owned by the NBA. Even with that there won’t be any problems because of the NBA lockout. The good thing is the WNBA has a lot of owners that are not even affiliated with the NBA, so we’re kind of on our own feet at this moment. That’s a pretty cool thing, and it’s just one of the things that I’m excited about. It just shows you the growth that we’re at right now.
Do you have any off-the-court endeavors you’d like to give us a heads-up on?
Absolutely. I have my website, cappiepondexter.com. Then there’s the company website – fourseasonsstylemanagement.com. You can also follow me on Twitter – @Cappa23.
Photography by Dan Howell
Article by Calvin Murray
Makeup by Crystal Paige (crystalpaige.com)
Hair by Hugh Corrodus (beautybarinternational@gmail.com)
July 3, 2012
Cappie Pondexter Highlight Video
Author: Administrator
Check it out!
June 28, 2012
Celebrity Spokesperson for Billion Dollar Challenge
Author: Administrator
Cappie has been named a celebrity spokesperson for the Billion Dollar Challenge, a national initiative targeting individuals and groups to pay down a total of $1 billion in consumer debt.
Other spokespersons include actor Hill Harper, actress Tischa Campbell-Martin, and radio talk show host Warren Ballentine. She serves as an example of finance management as a professional athlete and small business owner.
May 14, 2012
Cappie Pondexter honored…
Author: Administrator
The 39th Wheelchair Charities Awards honored Cappie Pondexter of the New York Liberty and New York Giants Super Bowl hero Victor Cruz and Claude Ritman, the former executive director of Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital, was also honored, along with the Vaccaro family, longtime supporters of Wheelchair Charities.
The affair was held at the New York Hilton, located at 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue, on (Thursday), May 10 at 6 p.m.
Cappie was named Female Athlete of the Year by the Wheelchair Charities. Hank Carter, chairman and CEO of Wheelchair Charities hosted.
Pictured with 4Season Style Management Coordinator, Malcolm Soaries.
February 1, 2012
Urban Ink Feature
Author: Administrator
This photo shoot and interview were fun and interesting. I was able to speak on tattoos …individualism, factors behind my choices to have tattoos.
Also, 4Season Style Management styled me for the photoshoot.
Check it out in my gallery Cap n Zines !! You can buy the issue from newsstands now..
October 18, 2011
WNBA’s Best New Ink: Cappie Pondexter
Author: Administrator
While NBA players have nothing better to do during a lockout, Cappie Pondexter has been playing ball with the New York Liberty all summer. And three days after it was over, she decided to go under the needle. Just recently, we’ve shown you new ink from Kevin Durant, Matt Barnes and Jeff Teague. Now, thanks to Twitter, we have the latest from the girl who recently gave Sebastian Telfair buckets. Check it out in all its glory after the jump.
http://dimemag.com/2011/10/wnbas-best-new-ink-cappie-pondexter/
July 24, 2011
Cappie Pondexter named one of the WNBA’s Top 15 All Time Player
Author: Administrator
The Liberty’s Cappie Pondexter, a former Rutgers star, has been named one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history.
The other picks: Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi, Seattle’s Sue Bird, Lauren Jackson and Katie Smith; Los Angeles’ Tina Thompson and Ticha Penicheiro; Indiana’s Tamika Catchings; San Antonio’s Becky Hammon; Tulsa’s Sheryl Swoopes; and retired greats Lisa Leslie, Cynthia Cooper, Dawn Staley, Yolanda Griffith and Teresa Weatherspoon.
The list was selected by coaches, players, members of the media and fans as the league celebrates its 15th anniversary. The picks were honored at halftime today during the WNBA All-Star Game.
Pondexter has been an WNBA All-Star in five of her six seasons. She played with the Phoenix Mercury from 2006-09 — helping them to WNBA titles in 2007 and 2009. She was then traded to the Liberty in 2010.
Bird, Catchings, Cooper, Griffith, Jackson, Leslie, Smith, Staley, Swoopes and Thompson were also voted to the league’s All-Decade team five years ago.
October 19, 2010
Blog:The Power Of Our Words
Author: Administrator
The Power Of Our Words
Hi all! Lately I’ve been thinking about words and how much power they have. They have the power to hurt or to heal. They have the power to encourage or discourage. They have the power to incite passion or kill a mood. They have the power to stir up someone’s greatness or tear them down. They have the power to create anger or express love.
Words are powerful. I’ve become more aware of the words that I speak and speak to others. We can make a powerful impact in the lives of others just with our words. I’m sure that we have all experienced having a “bad day” and out of no where, a kind word or encouraging word is spoken and your mood begins to change from “bad” to “better.” How many times have you been the one speaking those kind words?
Growing up, I was fortunate to have a mother and brother that encouraged me and believed in me. Their love and support has played an integral part in shaping me into the person I am today. Not many youth of today have that love or support. Not many are told that they are beautiful, that they are smart, that they can be successful, or that their lives even matter. There’s greatness in them and sadly, many don’t know that. What can we do? As I talked about in my previous blog, we give back and in addition to that, we speak meaningful words. Just knowing that someone cares is priceless.
Sure, words alone won’t cure all of the ills of life but we’ve got to start somewhere. Let’s encourage one another. Let’s encourage our youth. Let our words inspire greatness and foster integrity. The world is watching. The opportunity and need is there. What are you going to do?