Monarchs Blog and Q&A

Bee staff writer Melody Gutierrez grew up in Twentynine Palms. At 14-years-old, she decided to combine her two passions -- sports and writing -- when she became a special assignments reporter for the Desert Trail, her hometown weekly newspaper. Melody headed to Northern California in 2000 to attend Chico State and has remained in the region ever since. She earned an internship with The Bee and subsequently became a staff writer in 2004 and has covered virtually every sport, starting with high schools, up through college and then the pros. Melody took over coverage of the Monarchs last season and chronicled the team's pursuit of a second straight league championship -- a quest that fell just short.

Melody welcomes your questions and will answer as many as she can as the season progresses.

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« April 2007 | Monarchs Blog and Q&A front page | June 2007 »

May 31, 2007

Thumbs up or down for intense practices?

The Monarchs certainly don't go easy on each other during practices, diving for loose balls and taking charges. The intensity of their no-holds barred practices have resulted in a second injury to a key post player within a week.

Rebekkah Brunson suffered a sprained shoulder Thursday when she ran into a teammate. But as painful as that injury is, it may get a lot worse.

Yolanda Griffith is nursing a painful thumb injury that usually requires a cast. Instead, she's sucked it up and is playing with a splint made of tape.

Doctors told Griffith she could play with the torn ulnar collateral ligament in her right thumb -- her shooting hand -- as long as she can handle the pain and no more tearing occurs.

First-year coach Jenny Boucek likes intense practices, but at this rate -- only four games into the season and the team two days away from playing its first home game -- there may not be enough players left to scrimmage by the All-Star break.

Brunson is listed day-to-day and Yo will play Saturday against the Sparks -- that is if she can survive Friday's practice.

Posted by tnegrete at 08:13 PM | Comments

May 30, 2007

Monarchs close to sixth consecutive home-opener sell out

The Monarchs are a few hundred tickets away from recording their sixth consecutive WNBA home-opener sell out, team officials said Wednesday. The team expects to make a formal announcement of a sell-out crowd of 17,317 as early as Thursday.
The Monarchs face the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Arco Arena.

Posted by tnegrete at 04:03 PM | Comments

May 29, 2007

Griffith on the mend

Yolanda Griffith participated in the Monarchs shootaround today in Phoenix and appears to be ready for the 7 p.m. tipoff against the Mercury, team officials report.

Griffith sprained her right thumb Thursday and missed Friday's practice. She returned Saturday wearing a splint, but was still able to participate.

The team's trainer, Jill Jackson, has taped Griffith's thumb to provide support for tonight's game. The veteran leader is expected to start at center.

The Monarchs (2-1) will need Griffith to contribute more points than she has thus far this season.

Griffith has spread 16 points across three games, 11 of which were against Washington on May 22. The Monarchs are averaging 66 points a game.

The Mercury (2-1) set a WNBA record in scoring last season, averaging 87.1 points a game. So far this season, Phoenix is averaging 93 points a game and are coming off a 111-85 romp over Houston on Friday.

Posted by Bill Bradley at 03:39 PM | Comments

May 25, 2007

Around the league

Deanna Jackson will not return to the Chicago Sky after her contract was terminated earlier this week for striking a player in an offseason game in Israel, the team announced.

The five-year veteran was suspended in April after she hit an opposing player after Israel's national league title game, according to Sky press release.

"Although we have been informed that there is still an ongoing investigation of Deanna's altercation with Ina (Gurevich) in Israel, the general nature of the incident is not in dispute," said Sky team owner Michael Alter in a press release. "The situation is unfortunate, but we and our fans hold our players to a high standard of conduct."

Posted by tnegrete at 05:29 PM | Comments

Thumbs down

Monarchs veteran center Yolanda Griffith missed Friday's practice and was seeking medical treatment after spraining her right thumb during Thursday's practice, team officials said.

The Monarchs have Saturday off. It is unclear whether Griffith will be able to practice Sunday or Monday before leaving traveling to Phoenix for Tuesday's game against the Mercury.

Posted by tnegrete at 04:22 PM | Comments

May 21, 2007

Penicheiro looks OK to play

Ticha Penicheiro is listed as a probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Washington Mystics, as Monarchs officials report she is doing well after a slight groin injury. Penicheiro reported pain in her groin during the first six minutes of play in Sunday's 74-64 win over Minnesota.

Penicheiro came out of the game for "precautionary reasons," coach Jenny Boucek said.

After some treatment, Penicheiro is doing well, team officials said Monday.

- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 07:12 PM | Comments

May 20, 2007

Penicheiro limited in Monarchs' victory

The Monarchs controlled the glass Sunday in a convincing 74-64 road win against Minnesota, despite limited use of veteran Ticha Penicheiro.

Following the first quarter, Penicheiro sat out the rest of the game with a "twinge in her groin," Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek said.

"We are just being careful with her," Boucek said.

Penicheiro played six minutes, going 0 for 1 from the field with one offensive rebound.

The Monarchs outrebounded the Lynx 42-23.

Kara Lawson had 19 points while sharing point guard duties with Kristin Haynie, who had 10 points. Nicole Powell had 14 points.

Minnesota's Seimone Augustus finished with a game-high 28 points.

- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 07:05 PM | Comments

Healthy Augustus hurts Monarchs

After suffering an injury Saturday night in a loss to Indiana, Minnesotay Lynx guard Seimone Augustus was reported to be unlikely for today's game against the Monarchs at Target Center. However, the 2006 Rookie of the Year took the court despite the bruised right quadriceps for the Lynx opener and Augustus bobble head night.

Augustus sank 5 of 6 shots from the field for 10 points of Minnesota's 18 first-quarter points.

While Augustus looked unstoppable, the Monarchs led the first quarter 19-18 off of Kristin Haynie's six points.

Entering the second quarter, Augustus sat the first four minutes, allowing the Monarchs to go on a 10-0 run. Even as Augustus reentered the game, the Monarchs continued to light it up, especially on the boards. The Monarchs outrebounded the Lynx 25-10 in the first half to enter intermission with a 40-27 lead.

Adrian Williams and Rebekkah Brunson pulled down five rebounds apiece. Kara Lawson and Nicole led the Monarchs in scoring with eight points a piece.

Augustus led all scorers at intermission with 12 points.

Posted by Ahmed Ortiz at 06:20 PM | Comments

May 19, 2007

Monarchs lose opener

The Monarchs came as close as three points, but couldn’t close out the win against the Shock on Saturday in their season opener, losing 75-68 at the Palace.
Chelsea Newton and Kara Lawson led the Monarchs in scoring with 14 points each. All of Newton’s points came in the first half.
Detroit had a standout performance from Plenette Pierson coming off the bench and scoring 22 points.
The Monarchs leave tonight and will head to Minneapolis for a game Sunday.

Posted by tnegrete at 03:51 PM | Comments

Half time numbers

Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek looked over a stat sheet on the sidelines as the Monarchs returned from intermission in today's game against host Detroit.
In the first half, the Monarchs scored eight unanswered points, six by Chelsea Newton, in the final 59.2 seconds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an earlier deficit. Detroit led 42-35 at intermission.
Chelsea Newton scored 12 points in the first half in 11 minutes, while the
team posted four blocked shots. DeMya Walker was 1-for-5 from the field,
making the Monarchs' final shot with 0.9 seconds remaining.
Plenette Pierson led Detroit with with 14 points at the half.
Both teams are dealing with a first half littered with fouls, including
three on Rebekkah Brunson and three on Kara Braxton.

Posted by tnegrete at 02:00 PM | Comments

The Weary Traveler

The road trip to Detroit is one of the most grueling for the Monarchs.
Without a direct flight from Sacramento, the Monarchs, who fly commercially,
had a layover in Minneapolis before making it to Detroit on
Thursday. From there, the team took a bus to Auburn Hills, some 50 miles
north.
“It’s good we got here a day early,” Yolanda Griffith said. “It gives you a
chance to adjust.”
The Monarchs will leave directly after today’s game and fly to Minneapolis
for Sunday’s game against the Lynx.

Posted by tnegrete at 12:22 PM | Comments

Observations from the Palace

Jenny Boucek will log her first game as a head coach when the Monarchs and
Shock take the floor at 12:30 p.m. today
“There are some nerves doing something for the first time, but it’s good
nerves,” Boucek said before heading to chapel with several members of her
team.

While Kristin Haynie and Yolanda Griffith listened to music to get focused
before warm-ups, Nicole Powell organized her things inside the locker room.
Powell said her pre-game routine involves a cup of coffee in the morning and
a sugar-free Red Bull when she arrives at the arena.

Several sections of the Palace have been named after Shock players,
including Katie’s Korner, Brax Pack, the Ford Faction and Nolan’s Nation.

Today is Shock coach Bill Laimbeer’s 50th birthday.

WNBA president Donna Orender made her way through the arena, stopping to
chat with Ivory Latta’s parents. Latta will play her first WNBA game after
coming off a successful career at North Carolina, where she finished as the
all-time leading scorer in school history for the men’s and women’s
basketball programs with 4,319 points.

Here are the match-ups for today’s game:
Chelsea Newton will guard Katie Smith
Ticha Penicheiro will guard Deanna Nolan
Nicole Powell will guard Swin Cash
DeMya Walker will guard Kara Braxton
Yolanda Griffith will guard Cheryl Ford

Posted by tnegrete at 12:19 PM | Comments

May 14, 2007

Welcome back, and pay up

Monarchs veteran DeMya Walker was fined Monday for returning late to training camp. The team was expecting Walker to practice Monday, three weeks after the start of camp, but the All-Star forward missed her flight out of Houston.

The team's policy is not to disclose fine amounts.

Walker arrived in time for today's practice but missed an appointment for a required physical to be cleared to play. Her first practice will be Tuesday.

"I'll suck it up and take the fine," Walker said.

Walker had been playing for CSKA Samara in Russia until losing to Spartak Moscow on Thursday in Game 5 of the Russian Superleague grand final series. Ticha Penicheiro plays for Spartak Moscow and returned to practice Saturday, playing in Sunday's preseason win against Phoenix.

Walker was in Houston to leave her 1-year-old daughter, Zachara, with the baby's father. Zachara will stay with her father until the Monarchs play the Comets on June 11.

- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Brian Blomster at 06:44 PM | Comments

May 10, 2007

Lining them up

You saw it here first. The Monarchs' probable starters in Friday's preseason game in Seattle are:

G Chelsea Newton

G Kara Lawson

G Kristin Haynie

C Yolanda Griffith

F Brittany Wilkins

Nicole Powell returned to training camp Thursday along with newcomer Adrian Williams. Ticha Penicheiro and Rebekkah Brunson are expected to return sometime this weekend, and DeMya Walker probably will be back Monday.

- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by Brian Blomster at 05:16 PM | Comments

May 08, 2007

Boucek bounces back

Monarchs new coach Jenny Boucek said she received her last test result and she’s A-OK. Boucek was hospitalized two nights at UC Davis Medical Center in late April after she complained of abdominal pain.

She was diagnosed with an inflamed intestine resulting from an infection.

Test results ruled out other conditions, which Boucek declined to identify. The final negative test results on Monday cleared an enthusiastic Boucek.

Initially, doctors feared it was appendicitis, but quickly ruled that out.

Posted by Bill Bradley at 05:31 PM | Comments

May 04, 2007

Monarchs waive Dubois

As expected, the Monarchs waived Leslie Dubois, who was signed to a training camp contract last Sunday in order to participate in the team's Las Vegas scrimmages. Dubois and Erin Batth have been utilized as practice players with the Monarchs to help the depleted post position.

Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek said Batth may travel with the team to Seattle for their preseason matchup against the Storm on May 11. That decision will be based on which Monarchs players return from their international competition.

Nicole Powell and Adrian Williams will play their final game on Sunday in Spain. Rebekkah Brunson, DeMya Walker and Ticha Penicheiro are still playing in Russia and will finish sometime before Thursday.

With their return, Batth will be waived along with two other players currently at training camp.

In other training camp news, La'Tangela Atkinson sprained her right toe during practice on Friday, said head athletic trainer Jill Jackson. Atkinson was acquired from Indiana in March for the Monarchs 2008 second-round draft pick. It's a setback for "Tangy," who said she was getting used to the Monarchs' system and felt she would bringing strong defense and rebounding skills to the floor during camp.

Atkinson graduated from North Carolina in 2006 and averaged three points with the Fever.

A little fun fact about Atkinson: The 23-year-old wears a clear tongue ring that she doesn't take out, even for games and practices.

-- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by rprice at 10:48 PM | Comments

May 02, 2007

Jersey look doesn't have uniform appeal

Yolanda Griffith isn't one to sugar coat things. If she is unhappy, the scowl on her face will tell you first.

Following Tuesday's practice, I asked her what she thought of the new WNBA uniforms, which have created quite the buzz as the design hit the Internet. The Monarchs veteran slumped back into a black chair, folded her long arms and announced "they're ugly."

In its first year as the official WNBA outfitter, adidas redesigned the uniforms for a "new distinct style that creates a women's basketball uniform that looks better than any other," according to Tuesday's WNBA press release.

The form-fitting uniforms have a tribal pattern going down the side, which features a different design for each team associated with their logo. The Monarchs design takes the insignia of the 'M' and 'S' in the team logo and combines them for a swirling pattern.

Others aren't so abstract: Houston has comets, San Antonio has stars and Los Angeles has sparks.

The uniforms have V-necks, racer backs (looks like a sports bra) and are designed to be tucked in. Players' numbers are above their names on the back of the uniform. The material is also different, using a fabric designed to regulate an athlete’s body temperature.

Griffith specifically said she wasn't a fan of the new material and felt like the league had decent uniforms last year. She said the uniforms look "cheap."

Conversely, Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek said she liked the new style and felt they were "very flattering."

You can form your opinion by clicking here: http://www.wnba.com/news/newuniforms_070501.html

Posted by Bill Bradley at 12:27 PM | Comments

May 01, 2007

For insurance, Monarchs sign two

The Monarchs signed two women they were utilizing as practice players to training-camp contracts over the weekend. Erin Batth and Leslie Dubois have been helping out the depleted post position during the first week of Monarchs training camp while the squad awaits the return of five players on teams in Spain and Russia.

The Monarchs were required to sign the pair for insurance purposes Sunday when the team traveled to Las Vegas to scrimmage Detroit, Minnesota and Houston, said General Manager John Whisenant. Although the contracts make them eligible to make the team, don't count on it. They are unlikely to make the roster.

Batth is 6-foot-4 center/forward from Clemson who has been working with the Monarchs as an administrative assistant to Whisenant. Batth was drafted in 2001 by the now defunct Cleveland Rockers, who waived her at the start of that season. She also is an assistant basketball coach at Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Grove.

The 6-foot-3 Dubois played for The Master's College, where her friend and former Monarchs player Erin Buescher starred. The two had played high school basketball together at Rincon Valley Christian High in Santa Rosa.

Interestingly, both Dubois and Buescher walked away form larger Division I schools to attend The Master's College. Dubois was on a volleyball scholarship at Arizona and Buescher was a prominent basketball player at UC Santa Barbara.

As for how the Monarchs did in Las Vegas, coach Jenny Boucek said she was impressed with how the team improved during each scrimmage on Monday. The four teams played two quarters against each other with running clocks. No score was kept and media was not invited.

"It went really good," Boucek said. "The drills became a lot more real to them."

A little tease: Look at this blog tomorrow (Wednesday) to read more about the new WNBA uniforms along with a sneak peak at the redesigned jerseys. Curious what Monarchs veteran Yolanda Griffith thinks about the new threads? Here's a hint: "cheap" and "ugly." Ouch.

Posted by Bill Bradley at 06:00 PM | Comments

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