New York's Pondexter and Los Angeles' Parker Named Players of the Month
Published on September 25, 2012 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2012 - Cappie Pondexter of the New York Liberty and Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks were named the WNBA's Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Boost Mobile, respectively, for games played in the month of September.
This marks the first season that Boost Mobile - the leaguewide marquee partner of the WNBA - has presented the WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month awards.
For Pondexter, the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month presented by Boost Mobile award is a first in her WNBA career. She has previously earned Player of the Week presented by Boost Mobile honors several times, becoming the first player in league history to win the award three consecutive weeks in 2008.
In leading the Liberty (15-19) to a 6-3 record to close out the regular season, Pondexter helped New York clinch its third consecutive berth in the WNBA Playoffs presented by Boost Mobile. Along the way the seven-year veteran ranked second in assists (5.3 apg), third in scoring (19.7 ppg) and tied for second in both field goals (62) and points (177). The Rutgers product also ranks third in scoring for the season (20.4 ppg).
Highlights of Pondexter's WNBA action in September included:
Sept. 5 vs. Phoenix: Eight assists and 10 points in an 87-59 win
Sept. 9 vs. Los Angeles Sparks: Double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 73-71 win
Sept. 12 vs. Washington: Three-for-seven from beyond the arc, six assists and 22 points in a 75-62 win
Sept. 16 at Washington: Double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds in a 75-68 win
Parker is being honored with the Western Conference Player of the Month presented by Boost Mobile distinction for the fourth time this season (May, June, July and September). Led by Parker, the Los Angeles Sparks have swept this honor for the 2012 season, with Kristi Toliver receiving the honor in August.
The University of Tennessee product led the Sparks (24-10) to a 5-3 record in the final weeks of the regular season, seeding them second in the West going into the postseason. For the month, Parker ranked second in the league in rebounds per game (9.5), fourth in the West in shooting percentage (.523) and third in the West in scoring (16.9 ppg).
A five-year veteran from the University of Tennessee, Parker was the first player in league history to receive both the WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in the same year (2008). A standout in the 2012 Olympics where she helped the U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team win her second and the team's fifth-straight gold medal, an Olympic record for traditional women's team sports.
Highlights of Parker's month included:
Sept. 7 at Washington: Recorded a season-high eight assists in a 96-68 win
Sept. 9 at New York: Double-double with 15 rebounds and 14 points in a 71-73 loss
Sept. 14 vs. Connecticut: Double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds in a 93-82 win
Sept. 18 vs. Phoenix: Double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 101-76 win
Sept. 20 vs. Minnesota: Double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds in a 92-76 win
The WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month presented by Boost Mobile are part of a series of on-court performance awards called the WNBA Performance Awards presented by Boost Mobile. The series, currently in its first season, also includes the WNBA Players of the Week presented by Boost Mobile and four of the WNBA's most prestigious year-end honors: WNBA Most Valuable Player presented by Boost Mobile, WNBA Defensive Player of the Year presented by Boost Mobile, WNBA Sixth Woman presented by Boost Mobile, and WNBA Most Improved Player presented by Boost Mobile.
For more information on this week's Players of the Month presented by Boost Mobile winners, visit www.wnba.com/awards.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 25, 2012
- Sparks Forwards Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike Earn Monthly Awards - Los Angeles Sparks
- New York's Pondexter and Los Angeles' Parker Named Players of the Month - WNBA
- Los Angeles' Nneka Ogwumike Named Rookie of the Month - WNBA
- Timberwolves Forward Kevin Love Teams Up With Lynx By Purchasing Tickets for Friday's Playoff Opener - Minnesota Lynx
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