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11/27/09 - Different styles, foreign referees, and the state of the WNBA

Freaknick: After a long WNBA season and a championship run in the playoffs—congratulations by the way—how do you have enough left in the tank for a full set of Euroleague games?

Cappie Pondexter: It’s definitely tough going from season to season, but at the end of the day I love what I doand appreciate that I can do this and still make a living. That and my faith give me the strength to keep going.

FN: What are your goals going over there? Do you use it as an opportunity to hone in on some areas of your game that need work?

CP: My goals every year are to add something new to my game and get better in every aspect. And obviously, I always want to give my club a chance to win titles. Every year I play I want them to be the best they can be, so I compete every day in practice to make that happen. It also helps to prepares you for Olympic play. It gives you a chance to learn the European game and become familiar with the players. By the way, I get to know the referees too, LOL, which is the biggest plus in my eyes.

FN: With the news that the Monarchs will be leaving Sacramento, can you just talk a bit about the state of the WNBA?

CP: I’m not sure how this WNBA thing will turn out, but I have faith that [WNBA President] Donna Orender will make the best decisions for this league. It’s sad to see the Monarchs be moved but at the same time I’ll stay optimistic about them becoming a better organization for women’s basketball. The fans—without question—will be missed.

FN: What’s the biggest difference you’ve seen between the Euroleague and the WNBA?

CP: The biggest difference is the level of play and the way the game is played. WNBA is more powerful in terms of each player’s strength; in Europe, you have 19-year-olds playing with you. Skill wise, however, Europe is ahead of the WNBA without question.