Sacramento Monarchs Weekly Update

May 29, 2007 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


Monarchs Opening Day Banner Unveiling

Saturday, June 2, after a four game road trip, the Monarchs will be back in Sacramento to take on the Los Angeles Sparks in their home opener. Before tip-off, the Monarchs will unveil their Western Conference Championship banner for the first time. Last season, the Monarchs defeated the Sparks 2-0 to win the Western Conference Championship and advance to the WNBA Finals for the second straight year.

Home Sweet Home

With a win at their Home Opener on June 2, the Monarchs would set a new franchise record for consecutive home games won with 10. The current streak began with a 82-61 victory against Indiana on June 25, 2006.

Not At All Offensive

On May 22, 2007, the Monarchs pulled down a franchise record 25 offensive rebounds, breaking the previous record of 21 set in 1998.

New Kid on the Block

Jenny Boucek begins her first season as the Monarchs Head Coach. Boucek returns to the WNBA after serving as an advanced scout for the NBA's Seattle Super Sonics since 2006. She brings seven years of WNBA assistant coaching experience, including the 2004 WNBA Championship run with the Seattle Storm. Boucek is the first person in the WNBA to be a player, assistant coach, and head coach.

Monarchs Recent Transactions

5-14-07: Waived centers Antionette Wells and Erin Batth

5-12-07: Waived guard LaToya Bond

5-4-07: Waived center Leslie Dubois

5-1-07: Signed centers Erin Batth and Leslie Dubois as free agents.

4-18-07: Signed center Antionette Wells as a free agent.

4-13-07: Acquired the Indiana Fever's 2008 third round draft pick in exchange for forward Jessica Dickson.

4-04-07: Selected forward Jessica Dickson (21st overall) in the 2007 WNBA Draft.

3-23-07: Acquired guard Chelsea Newton and the Chicago Sky's 2007 second round draft pick in exchange for Sacramento's 2007 first round draft pick.

Acquired guard/forward La'Tangela Atkinson from the Indiana Fever in exchange for the Monarchs 2008 second round draft pick.

2-14-07: Acquired forward/center Adrian Williams from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for the Monarchs 2007 second round draft pick.

1-08-07: Selected guard LaToya Bond (10th overall) in the 2007 WNBA Dispersal Draft.

Monarchs Upcoming Schedule

Tuesday, May 29, 2007, Monarchs at Phoenix Mercury at US Airways Arena, 7:00 P.M. PDT on Comcast SportsNet.

Saturday, June 2, 2007, Monarchs vs. Los Angeles Sparks at ARCO Arena, 7:00 P.M. PDT on News10.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007, Monarchs vs. San Antonio Silver Stars at ARCO Arena, 7:00 P.M. PDT.

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

TONIGHT'S OPPONENT

Monarchs at Phoenix Mercury

- The Monarchs face the Phoenix Mercury for the 36th occasion during the WNBA regular season. The Monarchs currently lead the all-time series 19-16 (Home 11-5, Road 8-11).

- The Monarchs were 1-2 against the Mercury in 2006, including a 105-78 win at ARCO Arena after the Monarchs Ring Ceremony to commemorate the 2005 WNBA Championship.

2007 vs. MERCURY

May 29 Tuesday Sacramento at Phoenix, 7:00 p.m. PDT on Comcast SportsNet

June 9 Saturday Sacramento vs. Phoenix, 7:00 p.m. PDT on Comcast SportsNet

August 17 Friday Sacramento vs. Phoenix, 7:00 p.m. PDT

August 19 Sunday Sacramento at Phoenix, 4:00 p.m. PDT on News10

SERIES NOTES

Largest Sacramento victory: 105-78, 5-20-06 @ Sacramento (27)

Largest Phoenix victory: 83-60, 8-4-97 @ Phoenix (23)

Most Points, Sacramento: 105-78, 5-20-06 @ Sacramento

Fewest Points, Sacramento: 54-69, 8-20-97 @ Sacramento

Most Points, Phoenix: 90-76, 6-6-06 @ Phoenix

Fewest Points, Phoenix: 47-63, 7-29-01 @ Sacramento

Longest winning streak, Sacramento: 8 games, 7-27-02 through 6-27-04

Longest winning streak, Phoenix: 8 games, 7-16-97 through 8-19-98

Monarchs last home win: 5-20-06, 105-78

Monarchs last road win: 5-21-05, 77-72

Current streak: Monarchs lost 2, last win 5-20-06 (105-78)

QUOTABLE

Sacramento Monarchs Head Coach John Whisenant, May 20, 2006 at Sacramento:

"We were excited at the ring ceremony and it obviously got us distracted. Many times halves are that way. We just were not focused. Phoenix came out and hit us with their best, and we were prepared for that. We've been trying to score a lot of points for a long time and this was something that was not new to us. We did play better defensively in the second half."

Sacramento Monarchs guard Kara Lawson, May 20, 2006 at Sacramento:

"This is the way we play. Team basketball with everyone kind of chipping in. I think there was a lot of question marks to start the season and one of the things that I think made us great team last year was that we filled in and everyone steps up and no matter who is out there we play well together. We definitely didn't play a perfect game but to see players like Erin, Maiga, and Kristin step up, because we really need to step up and come out and have great games this year."

Phoenix Mercury Head Coach Paul Westhead, May 20, 2006 at Sacramento:

"We have to keep working, we had spots where we played really well but we didn't do it for the full forty minute time. I think it's a question of realizing how much it takes to sustain it. It's something they'll have to learn about how long and how hard they'll have to play for forty minutes in order to do this and the only way you learn that is to play games."

Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, May 20, 2006 at Sacramento

"They take you out of your stuff and you know they're the number one team in the league and they did a great job. You know, we didn't quite do what we were capable of and that's why you play another game."



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 29, 2007


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