Sacramento Monarchs Weekly Update

August 23, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


Monarchs Advance

After a win against Houston on August 19, 2006, the Monarchs have advanced the Western Conference Finals for the fourth consecutive season.

Most Improved

After averaging a career-high 9.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, Monarchs forward/center Erin Buescher was named the 2006 WNBA Most Improved Player. In addition, Buescher led the league in field-goal percentage with 53.7% shooting. This is the second consecutive year a Monarchs player has taken home the honor as Monarchs forward Nicole Powell was the 2005 WNBA Most Improved Player.

All-Defensive Team Honors

The second annual WNBA All-Defensive Team was voted on by a panel of the WNBA's 14 head coaches, who selected First and Second Teams by position. Sacramento's Yolanda Griffith was chosen as a forward for the 2006 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team. This is the second consecutive year Griffith has been chosen for the honor

Monarchs Recent Transactions

8-7-06: Signed guard Chameka Scott to a second seven-day contract
7-31-06: Signed guard Chameka Scott to a seven-day contract
6-29-06: Waived guard Chameka Scott.
5-19-06: Waived guard Anne O'Neil.
5-17-06: Waived guard Dionnah Jackson and center Cisti Greenwalt.
5-06-06: Waived forward Lamisha Augustine.
5-03-06: Waived center LaToya Turner.
4-17-06: Signed forward/center Brittany Wilkins and guard Chameka Scott as free agents.
4-05-06: Selected forward Kim Smith (13th overall), guard Scholanda Dorrell (Hoston)
(14th overall) and forward Lamisha Augustine (41st overall) in the 2006 WNBA Draft.
2-24-06: Signed center LaToya Turner as a free agent
2-14-06: Signed guard Anne O'Neil as a free agent.
2-08-06 Signed center Cisti Greenwalt and guard Dionnah Jackson as free agents.

Monarchs Upcoming Schedule

2006 Western Conference Finals WNBA Playoffs

Thursday August 24 vs. Los Angeles Sparks 7:00 PM ARCO Arena NBATV

Saturday August 26 at Los Angeles Sparks 6:00 PM Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim ESPN2

Sunday *August 27at Los Angeles Sparks TBD TBD TBD *If necessary

**All games can be heard on Sports 1140 KHTK with Jim Kozimor and Krista Blunk calling the action.

Upcoming Opponent

Monarchs vs. Los Angeles Sparks

Sparks/Monarchs Playoff History

Sacramento is 6-6 (3-1 at home and 3-5 on the road) all-time against Los Angeles in the playoffs. The last time the two teams met in the post season was during the First Round of the 2005 Playoffs. It was a best of three series in which the Monarchs won the first game on the road, 75-72, and won the second game at home, 81-63 for a sweep of the series.

What about Leslie?

Lisa Leslie has been the high-scorer for the Sparks in 14 of 33 meetings with the Monarchs. When Leslie is leading L.A. in points Sacramento is 6-7 overall, 4-2 at home and 2-5 on the road.

How About Griffith?

Yolanda Griffith has been the high-scorer for the Monarchs in 12 of 25 meetings with the Sparks. When Griffith is leading Sacramento in points, the Monarchs are 7-6 overall against L.A, 4-3 at home and 3-3 on the road.

2006 vs. SPARKS

June 18 Sunday Los Angeles won, 80-69 at Los Angeles

June 23 Friday Los Angeles won, 77-63 at Sacramento

August 9 Wednesday Los Angeles won, 69-58 at Los Angeles

Monarchs/Sparks Connections

Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro and Sparks center Lisa Leslie both played for Spartak in Moscow, Russia during the 2005-2006 off-season.

Sparks forward Chamique Holdsclaw is a 1999 graduate of Tennessee, while four years later Monarchs guard Kara Lawson graduated in 2003.

Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro joined Sparks players Lisa Leslie and Mwadi Mabika in the 2002 All-Star Game for the Western Conference.

Monarchs forward Yolanda Griffith and Sparks center Lisa Leslie were teammates on the gold medal-winning USA Basketball teams in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. In addition, Griffith, Leslie, and Sparks forward Chamique Holdsclaw were gold medalists in the 1999 U.S. Olympic Cup.



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 23, 2006


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