3 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - News10 was the first Sacramento station to confirm that the Sacramento Monarchs women's basketball team has folded effective Friday morning.
News10's Bryan May spoke with team General Manager John Whisenant who confirmed the WNBA franchise was no longer part of the Sacramento Kings organization.
Whisenant said he was surprised at the decision.
"I am shocked!" Whisenant said. "Joe and Gavin (Maloof) called me (Thursday) night and told me. I was kept in the dark like everyone else."
"It's devastating for a lot of people in our organization and our players and fans. I really thought we were good for at least another year. This was really a surprise to me," Whisenant said.
Whisenant went on to say, "The decision was made because it's what's in the best interest for the Kings. All the staff and energy will be shifted to try and get the Kings to turn things around."
WNBA President Donna Orender immediately issued a news release and announced the league "is in active discussions with potential investors to relocate the Sacramento Monarchs to the Bay Area in time for the start of the 2010 WNBA season."
Orender said the decision was a difficult one for the Maloofs and she appreciated "the vision, leadership and support of the Maloof family over the past 10 years."
The Monarchs were one of the WNBA's original eight teams in 1997. The Monarchs won the WNBA championship in 2005 and the West Conference title in 2006.
Although attendance at the Monarchs games had fallen in recent years to an average of 7,733 a game, the team had loyal fans who appreciated the players and their dedication.
"When you saw WNBA games, you saw players with heart, people who weren't necessarily going to become millionaires, but they were great competitors, great athletes, great role models," said Esther Ritter, who has followed the team since its beginnings in 1997.
Ritter says the highlight of the team's tenure in Sacramento was in 2005 when the team won the WNBA championship title. She now hopes to cheer for them in the bay area where talks are underway for a possible move.
"I'll always be a Monarchs fan, so no matter where they play, I'm going to root for them," said Ritter.
News10/KXTV
