Cappie Pondexter is hoping for a happy homecoming tonight — happy for her, that is.
When the Liberty play at Phoenix it will mark her return to the franchise where she spent her first four seasons. Pondexter teamed with Diana Taurasi to form the most-potent backcourt in league history. They led Phoenix to the 2007 title.
But after last season Pondexter, the former Rutgers star, told the Mercury she wanted a trade back to the East Coast. The Liberty (7-7) got the superstar it never had and after an erratic start, seem to have found its way. Phoenix (5-11) is in a freefall, losers of six in a row.
“I’m sure there are some people that don’t understand my decision for leaving but I’m sure most of the fans will be great,” Pondexter said. “They know I gave them everything I had.”
Pondexter tried to do that with New York from the get go, but she was one of three starters in their first season with the franchise. A win tonight would make it four straight for the Liberty, lifting them above .500 for the first time since they won the season opener.
“We’ve definitely started to understand each other, started to respect each other,” Pondexter said. “We have a team that wants to win and a coach in Anne Donovan that knows how to win. If we follow the game plan, we can win.”
That’s been the only goal this season. The Liberty havn’t won a WNBA crown in 14 seasons. The acquisitions of Pondexter, Nicole Powell (dispersal draft), Taj McWilliams-Franklin (free agent) and, most recently, Plenette Pierson (trade) made it clear that management is going for it all.
Pondexter, who leads the team in scoring (19.7) and assists (4.9), has been named to the USA Women’s National team. She will be reunited with Taurasi. But tonight, Taurasi will try to ruin Pondexter’s homecoming.
lenn.robbins@nypost.com