Latest news with #CappiePondexter
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Makes Historic Paige Bueckers Announcement on Sunday
WNBA Makes Historic Paige Bueckers Announcement on Sunday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers is off to an excellent start as a rookie guard for the WNBA's Dallas Wings. Advertisement Through the first 10 games of her professional career, Bueckers is averaging 18.0 points, 5.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game — shooting 46.9% from the field and 33.3% from behind the three-point arc. Bueckers has totaled 180 points, 58 assists and 42 rebounds through her first 10 games in Dallas — putting her in some rare WNBA company. The rookie guard is one of just three players in WNBA history to reach those numbers through their first 10 games, joining Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Cappie Pondexter. "Paige Bueckers has totaled 180 PTS, 58 AST, and 42 REB through her first 10 career games. She's one of just three players in WNBA history to reach 180+ PTS, 50+ AST, and 40+ REB across a player's first 10 games, along with Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (2021) and Cappie Pondexter (2010)," the WNBA wrote in a social media post on Sunday. Bueckers recorded 21 points and seven assists in the Wings' 86-83 win over the Connecticut Sun on Friday. After a disappointing 1-7 start to the 2025 season, Dallas has since won each of its last two games. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers looks for an opening against the Connecticut Butler II-Imagn Images The Wings are 3-1 when Bueckers scores at least 20 points. Earlier this month, she dropped a career-high 35 points in a loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Advertisement Bueckers and the Wings will take the court for a matchup against the Washington Mystics on Sunday afternoon. The game is scheduled to tipoff at 3 p.m. ET. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alyssa Thomas cites ‘history' as part of joining Mercury after 15 assist game
The post Alyssa Thomas cites 'history' as part of joining Mercury after 15 assist game appeared first on ClutchPoints. Five games in, and Alyssa Thomas is already making history for the Phoenix Mercury. After Thomas was traded to the Mercury, she made it clear that there's one goal in mind: a championship. Advertisement In the process of doing so, she's likely to make history, and that's exactly what she did against the Chicago Sky on Tuesday. Thomas had 15 assists, tying Cappie Pondexter's record for the most assists in a single game in franchise history. When Thomas was asked about the achievement, she gave credit where she thought it was due. 'It's an honor, definitely a reason why I came here,' Thomas said. 'The history and all the players, but the credit goes to my teammates. They hit the open shots. It's really not me. 'When everyone's keying in trying to double team, it's on them, and they hit over one each and every time.' Advertisement 'The engine' is one of the most selfless players in the league. However, she's one of the most intense in the association. For instance, Thomas's alter-ego is fueling the Mercury's success. That no-nonsense, yet trusting and caring nature is the perfect recipe to unlock confidence in her teammates. Who else was impressed by Alyssa Thomas making Mercury history? © Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Her head coach, Nate Tibbetts has been infatuated with 'the engine' since arriving in Phoenix. It's not common that a coach gets another coach on the floor. Not to mention, Thomas's positionless basketball style fits the Mercury's mold, and specifically Tibbetts. Following the game, the head coach was impressed, but had jokes for his star forward. 'I just noticed 15 assists about 10 minutes ago, I mean she probably could have had 20 if we would have made a a shot in the first half,' Tibbetts joked. Advertisement 'We talk about throwing strikes, not balls, she throws strikes every time.. but, 15, that's pretty impressive. That's pretty impressive. This has been a great organization been around for a long time. In your fifth game to get to 15 assists, is pretty awesome.' The trust with Thomas, her teammates, the coaching staff, and the organization is unmatched. As a result, it's led the Mercury to a 4-1 start, despite missing All-WNBA starter Kahleah Copper and starter Natasha Mack. As Phoenix takes on the Western Conference Champions in the Minnesota Lynx, Thomas might need to make more history to secure the franchise's fifth win.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Natasha Cloud surpasses WNBA legend despite loss to Fever
The post Natasha Cloud surpasses WNBA legend despite loss to Fever appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New York Liberty are no longer the only team in the WNBA undefeated following their 102-88 loss to the Indiana Fever. Buried by an avalanche of three-point shots amid Caitlin Clark's return, the Liberty dropped to 9-1 on the season. Despite the loss, it was a big night for Liberty guard Natasha Cloud who managed to climb the WNBA record books with history, surpassing a legend in the process. Advertisement During the Liberty's loss to the Fever, Natasha Cloud finished with a team-high five assists, which was good enough to pass WNBA legend Cappie Pondexter in the history books for ninth on the league's all-time assists list. Cloud is one of three active WNBA players, including Chelsea Gray and Courtney Vandersloot, on the all-time assists list. The loss against the Fever notwithstanding, the Liberty are still among the absolute elite teams in the league, and arguably the favorite to repeat as WNBA champions. A big reason for that has been the addition of Cloud. The Liberty had two major losses in the backcourt coming into this season with Courtney Vandersloot signing with the Chicago Sky, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton ruled out for the season due to injury. Cloud's addition to the Liberty has helped offset those losses. She was originally acquired by the Liberty in a trade with the Connecticut Sun. Coming into the Fever game, Cloud had appeared in nine games for the Liberty at a little over 26 minutes per game. She's been averaging 9.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals with splits of 43.5 percent shooting from the field, 33.3 percent shooting from the three-point line and 92.9 percent shooting from the free-throw line. The No. 15 overall pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics, Cloud played the first eight seasons of her career with the Mystics. Last season she played for the Mercury after signing as a free agent. She was instrumental in the Mystics' 2019 championship run. Related: The difficult lessons the Liberty received from 1st loss of season Related: Sabrina Ionescu gets 100% real on Caitlin Clark's big performance
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Makes Historic Seattle Storm Announcement on Tuesday
WNBA Makes Historic Seattle Storm Announcement on Tuesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins made WNBA history on Tuesday, becoming 10th all-time in assists during a 98-67 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. Advertisement The league confirmed the milestone on Instagram, stating, 'Skylar Diggins passes Cappie Pondexter for 10th all-time in assists. Moving up the record books in Year 12!' Diggins recorded 15 points, seven assists, and three rebounds in the Storm's dominant performance. Her teammate Nneka Ogwumike added 26 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Ogwumike also passed Tina Thompson for 4th all-time in field goals made with her fourth basket of the game, per WNBA. The achievement follows another major milestone Diggins reached earlier in the month. During a June 11 game against the Minnesota Lynx, she became the fastest player in league history to reach 5,000 career points and 1,500 assists. Advertisement Diggins scored 18 points and added six assists in that game, handing the Lynx their first loss of the season. Diggins, now in her 12th year in the WNBA, currently averages 18.1 points, 6.1 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. The Storm improved to 7-5 with Tuesday's win and remain in the top half of the Western Conference standings. The team has one of the most efficient offenses in the league, ranking second in both field goal and three-point shooting percentage through the first ten games. Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins-Smith (4) reacts in the second half against the LA Sparks at Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Diggins, a six-time All-Star and six-time All-WNBA selection, credited her success to experience and time spent learning the game. Advertisement 'I've been able to play a lot of basketball with a lot of great players,' she told Sportskeeda. 'Obviously, that's where the assists come from.' She also acknowledged the challenges of leadership and working under head coach Noelle Quinn. 'I'm not easy to coach, but she's easy to play for,' Diggins said. 'She challenges my leadership, and I demand to be coached.' The Storm continues a three-game road trip and will face the Las Vegas Aces next on June 20. Related: WNBA Star's Outfit Decision Before A'ja Wilson Game Is Attracting Attention This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird inducted into Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird has been inducted into the 2025 class of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Bird is a four-time WNBA champion and the all-time WNBA assists leader, finishing her career with 3,234 total assists. On top of that, she is the most decorated International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup athlete in history, with four gold medals, and one bronze. She's also an Olympic career record holder for assists. Bird also broke records in college, playing for the UConn Huskies. She was the first pick of the first round in the 2002 WNBA Draft, and was with the Seattle Storm until her retirement in 2022. Other players inducted were Sylvia Fowles, Cappie Pondexter, and Alana Beard. Seven people total were inducted in the 2025 class.
