Job security is weakening around the country, and the WNBA is no different. The panic gripping so many workers nationwide has its hold on hundreds of blue-collar WNBA players.

The women's professional basketball league has trimmed rosters from 13 to 11 for 2009, and there also is one fewer team. That means 39 fewer jobs when the season begins June 6.

"How can you not be worried?" Monarchs forward-center Laura Harper asked in a telephone interview last week from Istanbul, Turkey, where she is playing during the WNBA offseason. "Job security is going down. I hear girls talking about it all the time. I was at a table of 10 WNBA players last night, and (we talked about how) it's going to be different. You have to come ready, or you are going to get cut."

Some players won't even be allowed to come ready. Training camp rosters will feature three fewer players, a maximum of 15 instead of 18, which makes it even more difficult for fringe players to get looks.

WNBA President Donna Orender said Monday she is confident about the league's viability and she doesn't see the roster cuts negatively affecting teams. Both of last year's WNBA finalists, the champion Detroit Shock and the San Antonio Silver Stars, used their benches sparingly during the championship series, which Orender said was an indication teams can perform with fewer roster spots.

However, she did say cost cutting helped steer the decision.

"It's definitely a factor," Orender said. "When you look at costs, you want to spend money that is productive."

Monarchs general manager John Whisenant said the effect is he must look for more versatile players when assembling his roster.

"We won't have the luxury of carrying an extra point guard or post player," Whisenant said. "We have to prepare for that. There's going to be jobs lost, and it's sad. But it's sad that jobs are lost with the recession we are in. We are just part of it."

The salary cap for the upcoming season is $803,000 per team; player salaries range from $35,190 to $99,500.

Still, no amount of planning compensates for injuries. Having 11 players makes misfortune that much tougher to deal with, Whisenant said.

"There are going to be injuries," he said. "You would have to be naïve and foolish to think you won't have injuries in 34 games in 90 days."

The Monarchs begin training camp in May with a familiar roster. After signing former standout guard-forward Hamchétou Maïga-Ba from the now-defunct Houston Comets, the Monarchs re-signed point guard Ticha Penicheiro, forward DeMya Walker and guard Chelsea Newton.

They join All-Star Rebekkah Brunson, Olympic gold medalist Kara Lawson, Nicole Powell, Laura Harper, Scholanda Robinson, Crystal Kelly, A'Quonesia Franklin, Charel Allen and Kim Smith.

Not all player contracts are guaranteed. The Monarchs have 14 players signed for training camp. That leaves one opening for a draft pick. The Monarchs select seventh in the April 9 draft.

"It's already an incredibly competitive league," said Smith, who has struggled to find a consistent role during her three seasons with the Monarchs. "There are so many talented players out there already who don't have a roster spot. It makes the business a lot more cutthroat."

The WNBA does not have a development league as the NBA does, meaning players cut have nowhere to play professionally in the United States until the next WNBA season.

Some players go back to their alma maters to train with former teams as one of their only resources to stay ready for their next opportunity.

Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek said she can envision the overall competitiveness raised this season, barring injuries. She said the roster contraction can be a positive.

"We don't want to outgrow ourselves," Boucek said. "We might have made that mistake in years past."

Boucek, a former WNBA player, said the loss of jobs is a sad reality of the economy.

"The most important thing for those of us who love women's basketball and believe in it, is that we can sustain in these tough times economically," Boucek said. "Everyone in the whole world is having to make sacrifices. It's just what we have to do right now. We'll make the most of it."

Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521.