Monarchs are finished in Sacramento

The franchise that turned Arco Arena into a purple haze of confetti in September 2005, that captured a basketball championship and paraded down J Street, is uprooting and possibly dissolving.

The Monarchs on Friday ceased operations in Sacramento, though WNBA President Donna Orender is pressing to keep the club intact. Discussions are ongoing with a potential ownership group in the Bay Area, she said.

The Maloof family's decision to abandon their decadelong ties with the WNBA was prompted by a renewed emphasis on the struggling Kings, according to Kings and Monarchs co-owner Joe Maloof.

"We're really bummed about this," he said Friday. "This is our team that won a championship. We love the Monarchs. But all of our efforts have to be on getting the Kings back to where they once were, and that takes our full commitment.

"We have to have all our people getting out in the community, working, blocking, tackling, doing the things to rebuild our relationship with the fans."

It is unclear how many employees, who work under the umbrella of Maloof Sports and Entertainment, would lose their jobs.

The fate of the Monarchs likely will be determined within a few weeks. If sale talks fail, the players will be dispersed among the league's 12 remaining franchises.

"I think the Bay Area offers a real opportunity," Orender said by cell phone. "It tends to be one of the top markets demographically, it has a strong fan base and basketball tradition. We have an existing franchise, a great coach (John Whisenant), and all it has to do is move 80 or 90 miles down the road."

While Orender refused to reveal which Bay Area sites were being considered, sources cited Oakland's Oracle Arena as the one receiving the most attention. Officials at San Jose's HP Pavilion told Associated Press they were interested in the franchise, but had yet to talk to WNBA officials.

In a larger context, the Monarchs departure furthers ongoing concerns about the stability and long-term viability of the 14-year-old league. The three-time WNBA champion Detroit Shock only weeks ago relocated to Tulsa, Okla., the Atlanta Dream underwent an ownership change, and only last December, the four-time champion Houston Comets were disbanded. One other franchise recently fraught with uncertainty – the Indiana Fever – committed for the 2010 season.

The reaction within the Monarchs organization was one of shock and disappointment. According to Whisenant, who is both coach and general manager, several players and employees broke down when contacted Friday morning.

"Ticha (Penicheiro), DeMya (Walker), Kristin (Haynie) and Hamchetou (Maiga-Ba) were all together at one of their apartments," said Whisenant, "and we're all down in the dumps.

"I had gotten attached to these players, to this franchise, and to making this league a success. We weren't making money, but we weren't losing a lot of money, either. We were casualties of the economy and what's going on with the Kings."

Whisenant, who guided the Monarchs to the 2005 title and into the championship series the following year, said he would accompany the team in any move – "unless the new owners have their own coach in mind. Under the circumstances, I would feel obligated."

One of the original eight WNBA franchises founded in 1997, the Monarchs reached the playoffs nine times in 13 years. The rosters featured All-Stars Penicheiro, Walker, Ruthie Bolton, Nicole Powell, Kara Lawson, Rebekkah Brunson and Yolanda Griffith, who was the 1999 WNBA Most Valuable Player and the team's emotional anchor during the best seasons.

Last year was not one of those seasons. The Monarchs racked up a league-worst 12-22 record despite a 9-8 finish. Whisenant fired coach Jenny Boucek at midsummer and returned to the sidelines after functioning solely as general manager for 2 1/2 years.

The decline was reflected in attendance. The Monarchs attracted an average of 7,744 fans to Arco Arena last season, slightly below the league average of 8,039.

Longtime season ticket holder Eloise Nielsen, fighting back tears, said the news struck her "like a kick in the gut. I can't believe they'd do something so thoughtless after all of the support they have. It's the one thing we really look forward to every year."

Only a week ago, season ticket holders were talking with Monarchs sales personnel about seat assignments for 2010. On Friday, the team Web site had been reduced to a five-graph summary of the day's developments and directed viewers to the WNBA site for further information about a potential relocation.

"I'm very sad," said season ticket holder Lynne Fowler. "I'm shocked because of what the Maloofs have said all along about their support for the Monarchs and the WNBA. But on the other hand, in this economic environment, I'm not shocked. Retrenchment is all over the place."

Staff writer Debbie Arrington contributed to this report. Call The Bee's Ailene Voisin, (916) 321-1208