Monarchs WNBA's top defensive team

July 27, 2005 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


SACRAMENTO, CALIF., July 27, 2005 - The Sacramento Monarchs, currently in first place in the Western Conference and second place overall (15-7), are the best defensive team in the WNBA. Through 22 games played, Sacramento ranks first or second in six of eight statistical categories. No other team's defense is consistently ranked as high as the Monarchs.

Sacramento's stymieing defense allows their opponents to score only 61.9 points per game on average (best in league) and when they do score they shoot 40.5% from the floor (second in the league) and 30.9% from the three-point line (first in league). On July 24, 2005, the Monarchs held the Detroit Shock to a season-low 51 points, their largest margin of defeat (91-51, 40 points) and Sacramento's franchise-high margin of victory.

The Monarchs 6.4 steals per game ranks them fourth in the league, causing their opponents to turnover the ball an average of 17.46 times per outing (best in the league). Earlier this season when the Monarchs hosted the Phoenix Mercury (June 10, 2005) Sacramento forced a Phoenix franchise-worst 26 turnovers, a season-high for Sacramento.

Led by consistent outstanding performances in rebounding by WNBA Most Valuable Player candidate Yolanda Griffith, the Monarchs suffocate their opponents on the boards, holding them to just 28.9 rebounds per game (second in league). Griffith currently ranks eighth in the league averaging 6.7 rebounds per game. On June 30, 2005, the Monarchs outrebounded the New York Liberty by 20 (44-24). In that game Griffith contributed 10 rebounds to the team's total, just one rebound shy of her season-high (11).

In the 2005 Monarchs home opener (June 4) Sacramento held two-time WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie to her second lowest career-scoring total (three, career low is two points vs. Minnesota, August 18, 1999). After the game Leslie commented about Sacramento's defense, "They really help out and have a very good concept of defensive principals. They aren't going to let you score a lot of baskets in the paint. They force you to shoot the basketball outside and make it tough for you inside."

The Monarchs will showcase their defensive prowess on Friday, July 29, when they take on cross-state rivals the Los Angeles Sparks at 7PM at ARCO Arena. In preparing for this third of four match-ups between these two teams, Sparks Head Coach Henry Bibby is sure to focus on Sacramento's defense. "I saw this team (Sacramento) being the best defensive team I've seen on tape in a long time. They are the best defensive team I've seen in the WNBA....They frustrate people and make you do things you don't normally do," said Henry Bibby.

"The Monarchs are defined by their defense," said Monarchs Head Coach and General Manager John Whisenant. "How well we play our defensive system allows us to either win or stay close and have a chance to win. Our defense creates and attitude of toughness with our rebounding, going after loose balls, running the fast break and executing our offense in crisp fashion."

The Monarchs will conclude their five-game home stand on Sunday, July 31, when they host the Minnesota Lynx at ARCO Arena at 6PM. Fans are asked to call (916) 419-WNBA for information about ticket packages. For more information, please visit the Monarchs website at www.SacramentoMonarchs.com.



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 27, 2005


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