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Monarchs center Yolanda Griffith selected for 2006 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team

August 1, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


SACRAMENTO, CALIF., August 1, 2006 - The Sacramento Monarchs and USA Basketball today announced that center Yolanda Griffith has been named to the 2006 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team, which will participate in the 15th FIBA World Championship to be played Sept. 12-23 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A veteran on the USA Women's Basketball Team, Griffith will be reunited with 2000 and 2004 Olympic gold medalists teammates Lisa Leslie, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Katie Smith, and Sheryl Swoopes on the 2006 World Championship Team. Additional members of the team include 2004 Olympic gold medalist teammates Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Diana Taurasi and Tina Thompson. 2003 FIBA U21 World Championship gold medalists Seimone Augustus and Alan Beard will be the newcomers added to the roster.

"I'm grateful for another opportunity to represent my county," said Griffith. "It's an honor and I know we will do well."

"I've known for some time that Yolanda would be selected because of her great determination and hard work," said Sacramento Monarchs General Manager and head coach John Whisenant. "In Yolanda, Ann Donovan will get a great competitor that will be an asset to our women's team."

Through 28 games in the 2006 WNBA season, Griffith currently leads the Monarchs in points and rebounding, averaging 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

During the 2004 Olympics, Griffith averaged 8.8 ppg (ranked 4th) and pulled down a team second best 6.6 rpg, while averaging 17.2 mpg on the floor. In 2000 she led the team in total rebounds (70), field goal percentage (68.5%), and was second in free throw shooting (75.0%). Her eight steals placed her in a four-way tie with Leslie, Swoopes and former Monarchs teammate Ruthie Bolton. Griffith was third in total points scored (92) and averaged 11.5 points per game.

Over her eight-year career in the WNBA, Griffith averages 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 15.0 points per game while shooting an average of 72.1 percent from the charity stripe and 50.8 percent of her field goals. A dominant player in the WNBA and a member of the WNBA All-Decade Team, Griffith currently ranks among the top 10 WNBA career leaders in different categories:

* Ranks #6 in the WNBA in total points (3,875)
* Ranks #3 in the WNBA in rebounds per game (8.6)
* Ranks #2 in the WNBA in total rebounds (2,063)
* Ranks #7 in the WNBA in field goal percentage (.508)
* Ranks #9 in the WNBA in field goals made (1,291)
* Ranks #2 in the WNBA in free throws made (1,039)
* Ranks #6 in the WNBA in steals per game (1.83)
* Ranks #5 in the WNBA in total steals (440)
* Ranks #5 in the WNBA in total blocks (289)

Griffith, the 1999 WNBA League MVP and 2005 WNBA Finals MVP is also a six-time WNBA All-Star and was named to the 1999 and 2005 All-WNBA First Team and the 2000, 2001 and 2004 All-WNBA Second Team.

Be a part of the Monarchs 10th Anniversary season. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, please visit the Monarchs website at www.SacramentoMonarchs.com .

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