By Mel Greenberg
Former Rutgers star Cappie Pondexter is likely to be among the USA Olympic women's basketball selectees announced at halftime during Saturday's nationally-televised WNBA game in Washington between the Mystics and Los Angeles Sparks, several source knowledgeable of the choices confirmed Friday afternoon.
The entire squad will not be named, but there are indications through teleconference alerts relayed to members of the media that former Connecticut stars Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, who played in the Athens games in Greece in 2004, will also be part of Saturday's announcement.
The notice did not mention any specific players in mentioning the USA Basketball officials who will be on the call.
Rookie Candace Parker, the former Tennessee star who has made a record-breaking debut with the Los Angeles Sparks after her selection as the overall No. 1 pick, is also likely to be part of the announcement.
Parker has already played with the USA senior national women's team.
Although Pondexter's aspirations for an NCAA title fell short at Rutgers where she achieved all-American status, the native of Chicago has already gone on to become a WNBA All-Star and last season was the MVP of the playoffs as the Phoenix Mercury won their first WNBA title.
Taurasi also plays for the Mercury. Her future Hall of Fame stature is already ensured, as is Bird's with NCAA, WNBA,and Olympic titles in their resume. Bird's WNBA ring was acquired with the Seattle Storm in 2004.
If the USA wins another gold medal, difficult as the challenge looms in Beijing, China, Pondexter is also likely to be Hall of Fame bound off a projected career stardom in the pros.
-- Mel
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