
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
- Tamika Catchings receives Community Assist Award for July - WNBA
- Sacramento Monarchs Weekly Update - Sacramento Monarchs
- Lynx Forward Adrian Williams Undergoes Successful Knee Surgery - Minnesota Lynx
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Sacramento Monarchs Stories
- Monarchs Forward/Guard Hamchétou Maïga-Ba Undergoes Surgery
- Monarchs Guard Ticha Penicheiro Undergoes Successful Surgery
- Monarchs' Center Courtney Paris Receives WNBA Cares Community Assist Award for August
- Sacramento Monarchs weekly update
- Sacramenton Monarchs, Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs and Wells Fargo Team Up to Win Toyota Rebound Contest

