WOW, WHAT AN AWESOME SUMMER I EXPERIENCED THIS YEAR WITH THE NEW YORK LIBERTY. WE WERE THE ONLY TEAM WITH A LOSING RECORD WHO MANAGED TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. I’M MENTIONING THIS BECAUSE WE WENT FROM BEING THE LAST PLACE TEAM IN THE EAST…TO TIEING FOR THIRD…TO EVENTUALLY SECURING THE LAST PLAYOFF SPOT!

IN THE 2ND HALF OF THE SEASON, WE FINISHED WITH THE 2ND OVERALL BEST RECORD IN THE WNBA, WHICH IN MY OPINION SHOWED THE HARD WORK, TOUGHNESS AND DETERMINATION AS A TEAM. AS THE TEAM LEADER, I REDIRECTED ALOT OF MY TIME AND EFFORTS INTO MAKING MYSELF BETTER AS WELL FOR THE TEAM! UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE ELIMINATED IN THE 1ST ROUND BUT WE GAVE ALL THAT WE COULD!

AS A PROFESSIONAL WOMEN BASKETBALL PLAYER, THERE IS LITTLE ROOM FOR RECOVERY. I HAD TO JUMP ON A PLANE AND HEAD TO ANOTHER TEAM IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. THE TEAM THAT I’M CURRENTLY PLAYING FOR IS FENERBACHE KOLUBU IN ISTANBUL. NOT ONLY DID I LEAVE NY BUT ALSO I WAS QUICKLY THROWN INTO A VERY IMPORTANT GAME THAT KICKS OFF THE SEASON HERE IN TURKEY, WHICH IS THE PRESIDENT’S CUP. LAST YEAR’S FINALISTS FACING OFF TO WIN THE 1ST CUP OF THE YEAR AND HAVE THE BRAGGING RIGHTS UNTIL THE NEXT CUP IS UPON US.

HERE IN EUROPE, I COMPETE FOR TWO LEAGUES; ONE BEING THE TURKISH LEAGUE WHERE WE TRAVEL ALL AROUND TURKEY. THE OTHER BEING, THE EUROLEAGUE WHERE WE (MY TEAM) TRAVEL ALL AROUND EUROPE COMPETING FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. IT’S THE ULTIMATE BECAUSE I LOVE TO TRAVEL AND EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT CULTURES WHILE DOING WHAT I LOVE (BASKETBALL).

LIVING IN ISTANBUL AND NEW YORK IS THE GREATEST FEELING. TWO SIDES OF THE WORLD BUT LIVING THE SAME LIFESTYLE AND VIBE. ISTANBUL AND NEW YORK ARE SO SIMILAR IN TERMS OF SHOPPING, LIFESTYLE, NIGHT LIFE AND DINING EXPERIENCES. I ENJOY BOTH PLACES TO BE HONEST.

THIS YEAR, I AM PLAYING IN A TOTALLY NEW ARENA! I LITERALLY CAN WALK FROM MY HOME TO THE ARENA, WHICH IS TIRING, BUT DEFINITELY A PLUS COMPARED TO OTHER PLAYERS LOL.

JOBS CHANGE SO MUCH IN WOMEN BASKETBALL THAT YOU MEET AND SEE SO MANY OF YOUR BASKETBALL FRIENDS. THIS YEAR IT’S GREAT BECAUSE I GET THE CHANCE TO SEE SO MANY OF MY NEW YORK LIBERTY TEAMMATES AND 4SEASON CLIENTS. I.E ESSENCE CARSON IS PLAYING HERE IN TURKEY, PLENETTE PIERSON I’M PLAYING AGAINST IN EUROLEAGUE, KIA VAUGHN IS HERE PLAYING AGAINST OUR RIVAL TEAM GALA AND I WILL GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HER AROUND MY CITY HERE IN ISTANBUL. THIS IS ALWAYS THE BEST. I LOVE TO SEE THEM AND CATCH UP ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE TO LEAVE NEW YORK AND COMPETE FOR OTHER TEAMS SO QUICKLY.

MY BIGGEST INSPIRATION OUTSIDE OF BASKETBALL IS MY COMPANY… 4SEASON STYLE MANAGEMENT IS MY COMPANY WITH A BUSINESS PARTNER. IT’S MY BABY, MY 2ND LOVE AND SOMETHING I ADMIRE AND TREASURE. OF COURSE, ITS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO ALWAYS BE PRESENT FOR DIFFERENT SHOOTS, PULLS, ETC ETC BUT I LOVE DOING MY PART WITH ARTIST & PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, CREATIVE INPUT AND BRINGING THE BEST I CAN. THIS SUMMER, I WAS PROUD TO SEE MY COMPANY’S GROWTH FROM ONE CLIENT TO OVER A DOZEN AND GROWING RANGING FROM ATHLETES, RECORDING ARTISTS, MODELS AND PRODUCT LINES.

OF COURSE, WHEN I’M IN EUROPE MY PART BECOMES A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT I’M STILL VERY MUCH ACTIVE IN DAILY DECISIONS. THIS IS WHY I THANK GOD FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS WHERE I BECOME AN INTERNET JUNKY!! I FELL IN LOVE WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT BLOGS AND SHOPPING WEBSITES. I CREATE NEW IDEAS AND COME UP WITH DIFFERENT INSPIRATIONS FOR EDITORIALS AND FOR OUR CLIENTS. I LOVE FASHION AND I ENJOY BECOMING BETTER FOR THE COMPANY’S GROWTH PROCESS.

THIS YEAR, I PLAN TO DO ALOT MORE SHOOTING HERE IN EUROPE THAN WE HAVE EVER DONE SO I’M DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT THIS…

LAST BUT NOT LEAST I WANTED YOU GUYS TO KNOW EVEN THOUGH I’M STILL PLAYING IN EUROPE FOR ANOTHER TEAM. I’M MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY GETTING READY FOR A HUGE YEAR IN NEW YORK. I’M EXCITED ABOUT HAVING BILL LAIMBEER JOIN US AND I’M MORE THEN CONFIDENT HE WILL MAKE US A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM!

UNTIL NEXT TIME, CREATE THE ENERGY YOU WANT TO HAVE IN YOUR LIFE!!!!

CP23

Cappie Pondexter was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of September 10th! Read the write-up below:

NEW YORK, September 17, 2012 — Cappie Pondexter of the New York Liberty and Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks were named the WNBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week presented by Boost Mobile, respectively, for games played Sept. 10 through Sep. 16.

This marks the first season that Boost Mobile – the WNBA’s leaguewide marquee partner – has presented the WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week awards.

For Pondexter, the Player of the Week award presented by Boost Mobile is her first of the season and the 13th of her career.

Pondexter led New York to a 2-0 record for the week as the Liberty improved to 14-17 overall, fourth best in the Eastern Conference. In the process, the seventh-year pro ranked first in the East in points (26.0 ppg) and minutes (35.5 mpg), and shared the lead in both assists (5.5 apg) and free throw percentage (1.000, 13-of-13). Pondexter, a guard, also ranked second in rebounds (9.0 rpg) and tied for fourth in three-point goal percentage (.455, 5-of-11).

A product of Rutgers University, Pondexter has led the Liberty in scoring and assists in each of its last four games, including 22-point and 30-point efforts this past week, both vs. Washington. Pondexter’s 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists helped New York open the week with a 75-62 home victory over the Mystics. She then logged a double-double, including game highs of 30 points, 11 boards, and five assists as the Liberty earned a 75-68 win in the nation’s capital. With one week remaining in the regular season, Pondexter ranks third in the WNBA in scoring with 20.7 points per outing and is tied for ninth in assists (4.3 apg).

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.

WNBA.com included Cappie Pondexter in the Supernatural Players profile set, presented by Sims! Check out Cappie’s special player profile here:                                        http://www.wnba.com/supernatural/cappie_pondexter.html

Cappie Pondexter was featured in a Fortune/CNN Money piece on marketing female athletes. The story focuses on women in sports who are great examples of managing success, money, and business in today’s society. Check out Cappie’s feature below:

Making a living as a female sports brand

Cappie Pondexter makes her living, mostly, on the basketball court. In her workout clothes, sitting in the team’s Greenburgh, N.Y. practice gym, the 29-year-old point guard smiles big, talks low, and exudes the kind of quiet confidence of someone who is used to being better at the things she does than those around her. When her team, the New York Liberty, played the Seattle Storm in June, she would sometimes make her defenders look like they were caught in freeze-frame while she cut through them like butter, taking the ball to the paint to score.

A top WNBA player like Pondexter does not wield the same kind of branding power as a NBA player, at least not yet.

Cappie Pondexter

Pondexter says she learned just how hard women athletes have to work to build a marketable personal brand after she joined the league.

“When I was younger, I had the tom boy thing going on,” she says. “I don’t know if you remember Aaliyah, always in Tommy Hilfiger boxers, big baggy shorts and hats? I was like that growing up.” When she left the U.S. in the offseason to play in Europe, she says, she started paying more attention to fashion.

About 80% of WNBA players play overseas to supplement their income. Over there, she’s a celebrity, Pondexter says. There’s not such a big discrepancy in respect paid to men’s versus women’s teams. Part of that might be because there’s more money available for female players as private investors and governments heavily fund many European women’s basketball teams.

“We work for three months and the amount of money we get for three months is damn good,” Pondexter says. “But in Europe, it’s a totally different lifestyle. I mean, you’re making six figures over there.”

To further supplement her income, Pondexter started an image consulting company for young athletes called 4 Season Style Management. There’s a need for it, she thinks, because, “A lot of times, coming out of college — this is even speaking for myself and my own experience — you don’t realize the importance of your image,” Pondexter says. “And your brand is what people want to invest in, and that’s money, you know what I mean?”

It can be tough to brand a female basketball player, she says, because the sport is so aggressive. “So a lot of times, fans don’t relate feminism and that aggressiveness all in one. Me personally, I kind of take it as a challenge.”

The Cappie Pondexter Wheelchair Classic was held on Sunday, July 8, 2012 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ following the New York Liberty vs. San Antonio Silver Stars game. For WNBA.com’s interview with Cappie along with footage from the classic, click here: nylcappie071112NBAmp4-2153592

Liberty stars Essence Carson and Kia Vaughn showed their support at the classic as well as Becky Hammon of the Silver Stars and WNBA legend Vicki Johnson. This was the first year of the Cappie Pondexter Wheelchair Classic. Half of the proceeds went to Wheelchair Charities and half to the Garden of Dreams Foundation.

Check it out!

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.

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..

by Adena Andrews / @adena_andrews

The blogosphere was set ablaze as a modern day Battle of the Sexes was born from video (above) of New York Liberty point guard Cappie Pondexter playing against NBA veteran Sebastian Telfair. Thousands of viewers saw Pondexter make it rain buckets in a head-to-head matchup with a bigger, stronger, taller NBA player. But what they didn’t see were the events that led up to the explosive matchup of two legendary point guards. SLAM recently caught up with the two ballers to discuss what happened in Vegas.

SLAM: How did you end up playing together at Impact basketball facilities in Las Vegas?

Cappie Pondexter: Al Harrington and Chauncey Billups actually dragged me into the game. I was visiting Las Vegas with my brother and cousin and I got a call from Chauncey and he said, “I’m picking you up in the morning you’re going to workout with me.” I got to the gym the next day and after two hours of working out with Billups I was resting up and about to ice my body. Then Al Harrington comes over to me and says, “Get a jersey. You’re in”. I’m like “Really? But, I’m tired”. I played anyway because those guys are like my brothers and we are all just trying to get better.

Sebastian Telfair: That day I was in there working out with about 15-20 NBA players and we started playing pickup games. Cappie got called in at point guard and I was the point guard. We played five games and Cappie’s team won the first two and we won the last three. The game you saw on YouTube was the fourth game.

SLAM: What were your thoughts when you saw you were going to be matched up against each other?

CP: I just remembered him being a playground legend in New York. He was the head of his class coming out. It was just cool to go up against him.

ST: I came into the gym and saw Chauncey and about 15-20 other NBA players and that’s normal. But when I saw Cappie was going to be in the game, knowing how successful she is, probably top 15 in the WNBA, I had to respect that right away.

SLAM: When did you decide to turn up the heat in the game and go shot for shot?

CP: The jumper was just what I was feeling. I was kind of nursing an injury at the time too so I thought hitting jumpers was the safer thing to do. Also, I just wanted to work on my shooting. He gave me some good buckets too.

ST: It seems in game four she got a little more aggressive. On the first shot in the video, she comes down the left side and puts up a jumper. She even called “off” but it went in and didn’t even touch the net. I was right in her face and standing on top of her. That’s when I knew she was trying to win this. Then I hit her with the jumper then she hits me with the hesitation. At that point I thought, “She got game, so if I don’t take her serious she is going to try and show me up in here”

SLAM: Were you holding back in the game?

CP:I don’t know if he was taking it easy on me. He’s a cool guy and he was in there just trying to get better.

ST: After she hit a few shots I was definitely guarding her hard. I was saying in my head “She’s not going to score anymore” but she proved me wrong on that. There were other things that she did that weren’t on the tape. She was on the court holding her own. She would come off pick and rolls, make a pass and do obvious stuff the fans wouldn’t be able to understand. It’s no secret she is one of the best point guards to play the game.

SLAM: How did the crowd reaction fuel the tempo of the game?

CP: I got excited. Probably like four or five days ago I had just finished my season in the WNBA. So it was cool to get that reaction and play with the guys after that loss. It was definitely a confidence booster.

ST: That made it fun. You know how she plays; she is one of those up-tempo point guards with handle. It brought it back to street ball in the middle of a game with 20 NBA players in the gym.

SLAM: What was your reaction to the video going viral?

CP: I figured it was going to happen. I have also heard a lot of negative things about it. People say, “It’s fake, it’s not real”. People have to understand that I grew up doing this. I have been playing basketball since I was 10. This is what I love to do. I mean who wants to fake a video. We were both trying to get better and we were having fun doing what we love and it happened to be a crowd there. There’s nothing fake about that.

ST: I didn’t think it was going to go viral. I don’t have Twitter and Facebook like everyone else. I just follow it. As long as the people recognize I was out there fighting with another boss, that’s all that matters.