Indiana Fever Sign Two-Time WNBA Champ, Seven-Time All-Star Cappie Pondexter

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever have signed veteran WNBA guard Cappie Pondexter to a free agent contract, as announced by head coach and general manager Pokey Chatman. In a corresponding move, the Fever waived rookie guard Hind Ben Abdelkader.

A 5-9 shooting guard, Pondexter is the fourth-leading scorer in WNBA history (6,638 points), just behind Fever legend Tamika Catchings (7,380). She also ranks sixth among the league’s all-time leaders in assists (1,534) and free throws made (1,433), and 13th in 3-point field goals made (453). She is expected to arrive in Indianapolis this afternoon though her status for tonight’s game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, when the Fever host the Atlanta Dream, is questionable. Her Fever debut will represent the 400th game of a 13-year career that has wound through Phoenix, New York and Chicago before arriving in Los Angeles as a free agent earlier this summer.

Pondexter, 35, was released by the Sparks on Thursday.

“Cappie is a fierce competitor that has the ability to play both guard positions,” said Chatman, who coached Pondexter for two seasons in Chicago. “Her experience and mindset will immediately impact our team.”

A seven-time WNBA All-Star, Pondexter won a pair of WNBA championships with Phoenix in 2007 and 2009. She was the Finals MVP in 2007 and played a key role in a five-game Finals series against the Fever in 2009.

An Olympic gold medalist and USA teammate of Catchings in Beijing 2008, Pondexter was the WNBA’s No. 2 overall draft selection, by Phoenix, in 2006; just ahead of new Fever teammate Candice Dupree, chosen with the No. 6 pick by Chicago.

Pondexter enjoyed four years of success with the Mercury, prior to a trade to New York in 2010. She averaged 17.9 points per game with the Liberty through 2014 and established a career scoring high of 40 points in an overtime loss to Indiana, July 18, 2010, at Madison Square Garden. Pondexter’s 40 points remain a single-game record for the Liberty and the most ever scored against the Fever.

Raised in Chicago, she was acquired via trade by Chatman and the Sky prior to the 2015 season. The Sky finished second in the Eastern Conference in back-to-back seasons with Pondexter averaging 13.9 points per game as a two-year starter.

Tickets for Sunday’s game against Atlanta (5:00 p.m.) begin at $13 and can be purchased here. Kids 5 & under are FREE with at least one paying adult in the Krieg DeVault Club Level.

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