Chinese National Team's second leading scorer to join Monarchs' training camp

March 7, 2005 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


SACRAMENTO, CALIF., MARCH 7, 2005 - The Sacramento Monarchs today announce that Miao Lijie of China has signed a contract with the franchise. Miao Miao becomes the third player from China to sign into the WNBA. The second Chinese player, Sui Feifei, also signed with the Monarchs in February.

The 24-year-old, 5'11 guard is currently in her eighth year on the Chinese National Team and just finished her fourth season in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association (WCBA), where she has led the league in scoring all four seasons.

International players have had a constant positive influence on WNBA basketball since the inception of the league. Of the 24 WNBA international players in 2004, over a quarter were among the Top 10 in various statistical categories, including Sacramento's Ticha Penicheiro (Portugal) who currently ranks as the WNBA's all-time assists leader and finished the 2004 season ranked fourth in total assists (163) and assists per game (4.9).

Other prominent international leaders in 2004 included Lauren Jackson (Australia - #1 total points), Tammy Sutton-Brown (Canada - #2 blocks per game), Mwadi Mabika (Congo - #10 points per game), Margo Dydek (Poland - #3 defensive rebounds per game) and Elena Baranova (Russia - #2 3-point field goal percentage).

Maio's international statistics are equally as impressive as those of the international WNBA stars. During the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Miao was the second leading scorer for the Chinese National Team averaging 13.8 points per game. Through five games she averaged 33.2 minutes, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. Miao also plays for Heilongjiang in the WCBA. This 2005 WCBA All-Star averaged 35.5 minutes, 26.4 points (45.6% FG, 33.6% 3-pt FG, 81.5% FT), 4.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game this past season.

"Miao appears to offer what we need for the upcoming season," said Sacramento Monarchs Head Coach and General Manager John Whisenant. "Combined with Sui Feifei, we now have the top two scorers from the Chinese National Team and are looking forward to having them both at training camp."

The Sacramento Monarchs first regular season home game will be on Saturday, June 4, at ARCO Arena when the Monarchs host the Los Angeles Sparks at 1:00 p.m. in a game to be nationally televised on ABC.

Fans are asked to call (916) 419-WNBA for information about season ticket plans. For more information, please visit the Monarchs website at www.SacramentoMonarchs.com.



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