Sacramento Monarchs Weekly Update

August 5, 2008 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Sacramento Monarchs News Release


MONARCHS NEWS & NOTES

Monarchs Re-Sign DeMya Walker

On July 21, 2008, the Monarchs announced that the team has re-signed unrestricted free agent DeMya Walker. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. On May 15, 2008, the franchise requested waivers on Walker after she suffered a right knee patella fracture on April 27, 2008, while playing with her team, Nadezhda, located in Orenburg, Russia. She underwent successful surgery on May 2, 2008, under the care of Monarchs Team Doctor Richard Marder. Walker, who was expected to be out six months, went through rehabilitation and has been cleared by team doctors to play the remainder of the 2008 season.

Lawson Joins 2008 U.S. Olympic Team

On Tuesday, July 10, the Sacramento Monarchs and USA Basketball announced that guard Kara Lawson has been named to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team, which will represent the United States in the Beijing Olympics in August. She is only the third Monarchs player in franchise history to play with the Olympic Team, following two-time Olympic gold medalists Ruthie Bolton and Yolanda Griffith.

MONARCHS LAST GAME

Seattle Storm 77, Sacramento Monarchs 71

Sunday, July 27, 2008, 6:00 P.M. PDT at KeyArena

Seattle ended the Monarchs win streak at seven consecutive game - a tie for the most in franchise history; Sacramento last lost July 8 against the Storm, 79-64, at ARCO Arena. Monarchs guard Scholanda Robinson led the team with 13 points, marking the fourth game in which she has scored in double-figures. Rookie forward Crystal Kelly pulled down a career-high-tying seven rebounds (prev. June 22 vs. Chicago) while guard Kara Lawson grabbed a season-high six rebounds. After trailing by 20 points, Sacramento went on a 19-2 run. The Monarchs eight assists tied the team's season low. The Storm improved to 3-0 against the Monarchs this season after Sacramento dominated the series history, 6-1, over the course of the past two seasons. Seattle has won seven straight at KeyArena and is now 13-1 at home. The Storm finished its five-game stretch without Lauren Jackson at 3-2. Previously, the Storm was 4-14 all-time without Jackson. Sue Bird scored a season-high 24 points. Tanisha Wright's six assists tied her season high, done July 8 at Sacramento. The Storm improved to 13-3 when Swin Cash (13) scores double-figures. The Storm improved to 7-0 when recording double-figures steals (11) and 6-0 when forcing at least 20 turnovers (20). The Storm's 10 points were a season low for a fourth quarter. The team was scoreless for a 5:21 stretch and shot 1-of-11 in the period.

MONARCHS APPEARANCE CALENDAR - OLYMPIC BREAK

Tuesday, Aug. 5 - Discover Card Home Court Challenge

At ARCO Arena on Tuesday, Aug. 5, Monarchs forwards Rebekkah Brunson and Laura Harper will help run the Discover Card Home Court Challenge, in which 80 local boys and girls ages 9-14 will participate in a basketball clinic and a basketball skills competition. The children will also have an opportunity to meet and interact with Monty while also receiving a certificate of participation and a Monarchs gift bag containing a stop watch, water bottle, wristband, headband, and a mini basketball.

Thursday, Aug. 7 - Monarchs Fit Clinic

Off the court, the WNBA continues to position its players as positive role models for all of its fans. The League and its teams create and implement programs that support healthy lifestyles and positive self-images. The WNBA's Fit program will focus on providing positive benefits of exercise, good nutrition and a positive attitude. To that end, on Thursday, Aug. 7, the Monarchs Fit Clinic will be hosted by Barbara Comstock Morse Elementary. In addition to the elementary school students, 15 participants of the Boys & Girls Club will attend the clinic, as all participants will take part in numerous basketball and physical fitness activities led by Monarchs forwards Laura Harper and Crystal Kelly and Monarchs Assistant Coach Monique Ambers.

Tuesday, Aug. 12 - Reading Timeout

Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro and Monarchs forward Kim Smith will read books to children at Anna Kirchgater Elementary who are a part of the START program. The players will sign autographs for kids and take photos. Each child will be given a goodie bag and there will be a book donation made on behalf of Sims Recycling Solutions. Read to Achieve is a year-round campaign to help young people develop a life-long love for reading and encourage adults to read regularly with children.

2008 Special Events at Monarchs Games During the 2008 season, the Monarchs will be hosting special events for fans to participate in during designated home games throughout the season. The special events at Monarchs games are as follows:

- Saturday, Aug. 30 vs. Houston Comets: Women of Inspiration Night (previously scheduled for Saturday, July 12)

- Tuesday, September 9 vs. Seattle Storm: The MONTYS - Monarchs Thank You Sacramento

2008 SACRAMENTO MONARCHS ROSTER

No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate College WNBA Exp.

12 Charel Allen G 5-11 135 07/23/86 Notre Dame '08 R

32 Rebekkah Brunson F 6-3 175 12/11/81 Georgetown '04 4

10 A'Quonesia Franklin G 5-4 154 09/29/85 Texas A&M '08 R

15 Laura Harper F/C 6-5 190 04/11/86 Maryland '08 R

42 Crystal Kelly F 6-2 190 09/15/86 Western Kentucky '08 R

20 Kara Lawson G 5-9 165 02/14/81 Tennessee '03 5

2 Chelsea Newton G 5-11 154 02/17/83 Rutgers '05 3

21 Ticha Penicheiro G 5-11 145 09/18/74 Old Dominion '98 10

14 Nicole Powell F 6-2 175 06/22/82 Stanford '04 4

5 Scholanda Robinson G 5-11 155 01/09/83 Louisiana State '06 2

8 Kim Smith F 6-1 158 05/07/84 Utah '06 2

22 DeMya Walker F 6-3 168 11/28/77 Virginia '99 7

34 Adrian Williams-Strong F/C 6-5 180 02/15/77 USC '99 7

A'Quonesia (AQUA-knee-sha) Franklin

Charel (sha-RELL) Allen

Ticha (TEE-sha) Penicheiro (Pen-a-CHAIR-o)

DeMya (Deh-MY-uh) Walker

Monarchs Recent Transactions

2-06-08: Atlanta Dream selected guard Kristin Haynie in the 2008 WNBA Expansion Draft.

3-03-08: Re-signed forwards Rebekkah Brunson and Nicole Powell to four-year contracts.

Re-signed forward Linda Frölich

3-04-08: Re-signed guard Ticha Penicheiro.

3-31-08: Re-signed forward DeMya Walker.

4-09-08: Selected forward/center Laura Harper in the first round (10th overall) of the 2008 WNBA Draft.

Selected guard A'Quonesia Franklin (38th overall), center Izabela Piekarska (40th overall) and guard Charel Allen (43rd overall) in the third round of the 2008 WNBA Draft.

4-17-08: Signed forwards Dionne Marsh and Janie Mitchell as a free agents.

4-18-08: Signed guard Amy Sanders as a free agent.

4-29-08: Waived guard Amy Sanders.

5-01-08: Waived forward Janie Mitchell.

5-12-08: Waived forward Dionne Marsh; signed center Valeriya Berezhynska as a free agent.

5-15-08: Waived forward DeMya Walker.

5-16-08: Waived center Valeriya Berezhynska and forward Linda Frölich.

5-18-08: Waived center Izabela Piekarska; signed forward Crystal Kelly.

6-28-08: Waived guard/forward La'Tangela Atkinson.

7-21-08: Re-signed forward DeMya Walker.

INJURY REPORT:

Rebekkah Brunson - right lateral meniscus tear and right fibula stress fracture (day-to-day)



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 5, 2008


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