Pondexter Eastern Conference Player of the Week

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).

For Ogwumike, who earned the WNBA Rookie of the Month award in May, July, and August, the WNBA Player of the Week presented by Boost Mobile award is the second of her career. She previously earned the honor in week three of the season.

In leading the Sparks to home wins over Chicago (88-77) and Connecticut (93-82), Ogwumike helped Los Angeles extend its record to 22-10, second best in the Western Conference. Ogwumike opened the week with a career-high 30-point outing in an 86-77 defeat of the Sky, in which she also logged game-highs of 11 rebounds and two blocks. That effort marked her eighth double-double of the season, tops among the current rookie class and tied for fifth overall with Indianas Tamika Catchings.

The Stanford University product followed that up with 17 points, eight boards and three assists as Los Angeles downed the Eastern Conference-leading Sun.

With two games left on the Sparks regular season schedule, Ogwumike, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft, leads all rookies in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounds (7.4 rpg), and blocks (.94 bpg), while ranking second in field goal percentage (.526 on 163-of-310 shooting from the field).

Other candidates for WNBA Players of the Week presented by Boost Mobile were Atlantas Angel McCoughtry in the East, and, in the West, Tulsas Ivory Latta.

The WNBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week 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 Month 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 Week presented by Boost Mobile winners, visit www.wnba.com/awards.