Monarchs forward Yolanda Griffith 2004 USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team

Published on June 19, 2004 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


SACRAMENTO, CALIF., June 19, 2004 - The Sacramento Monarchs and USA Basketball today announced that forward Yolanda Griffith has been named to the 2004 USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team, which is expected to represent the United States in the Athens Olympics in August.

A veteran to Olympic play, Griffith will be reunited with 2000 Olympic gold medallist teammates Lisa Leslie, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Katie Smith, Dawn Staley and Sheryl Swoopes on the 2004 Olympic team. Additional members of the team include 2002 World Champions Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings and Shannon Johnson, 2000 U.S. Olympic Team alternate Tina Thompson as well as Swin Cash and Diana Taurasi.

"It's an honor to be given another opportunity like this," said Griffith. "I did it in 2000 and I want to go back and get the gold medal. Other countries are trying to take the gold medal from us and we're going to have to defend what we did in 2000."

"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, Van Chancellor will get a great competitor that will be an asset to our women's team. The Monarchs have struggled this season, but Yolanda has been the rock of the team, which is an indication of her determination and competitiveness."

Through nine games in the 2004 WNBA season, Griffith currently leads the Monarchs, averaging 15.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.

During the 2000 Olympics, Griffith 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 Monarchs teammate Ruthie Bolton. Griffith was third in total points scored (92) and averaged 11.5 points per game.

With WNBA stats equally as impressive, in 2003 Griffith averaged 7.3 rebounds, 1.68 steals and 13.8 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free throw line. During the 2003 WNBA playoffs, Griffith took her game to a new level, shooting nearly 54 percent from the field (53.7%), 91 percent from the foul line, and averaging 8.8 rebounds, 1.17 steals and 17.2 points per game.

Over her five-year career in the WNBA, Griffith averages 9.8 rebounds, 2.03 steals and 16.3 points per game while shooting an average of 71 percent from the charity stripe and 52 percent of her field goals. A dominant player in the WNBA, Griffith finished the 2003 season ranked among the top five in the WNBA in 10 different categories:


* Ranks #3 in the WNBA in Free Throw Attempts (190)
* Ranks #4 in Free-Throws (147)
* Ranks #4 in the WNBA in Field Goal Percentage (48.5%)
* Ranks #4 in the WNBA in Offensive Rebounds (92)
* Ranks #4 in the WNBA in Total Efficiency Points (570)
* Ranks #5 in the WNBA in Free Throws Per 40 Minutes (5.79)
* Ranks #5 in the WNBA in Efficiency Ranking (16.76)
* Ranks #5 in the WNBA in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (2.7)
* Ranks #5 in the WNBA in Steals (57)
* Ranks #5 in the WNBA in Double-doubles (11)

Griffith, the 1999 WNBA League MVP, is also a four-time WNBA All-Star and was named to the 1999 All-WNBA First Team and the 2000 All-WNBA Second Team.

"I am extremely pleased and thrilled," said Jerry Reynolds, former Monarchs General Manager and current USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team committee member. "No player in the women's game is more deserving. Obviously, Yolanda is one of the premiere players to ever play not only in the WNBA, but in the women's game. She is just an absolutely and totally deserving individual. We are all very pleased and proud."

The WNBA will take an Olympic break from August 2-31, 2004, to allow for WNBA players to compete for their respective National Teams at the 2004 Summer Olympics. During this break, remaining members of the Monarchs will be in Sacramento and take part in various activities. Please visit the team website www.SacramentoMonarchs.com for more information on Monarchs activities during the Olympic break.

Sacramento fans will get their first opportunity to watch the Connecticut Sun live at ARCO Arena on Saturday, June 12, at 7 p.m. Fans are asked to call (916) 419-WNBA for season ticket plans and group ticket information. For more information, please visit the Monarchs website at www.SacramentoMonarchs.com .

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