Monarchs go under, but could resurface in San Jose

By Janie McCauley
The Associated Press

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The Sacramento Monarchs folded Friday, a shocking and disappointing development for the WNBA and one of its original eight franchises.

The decision was based on the Maloof family's stated desire to focus its energy on the NBA's Sacramento Kings.

Now, the WNBA is left scurrying to try to find a new owner for the organization and a suitable market: with the most logical place being the Bay Area, perhaps Oakland or San Jose.

League president Donna Orender said Friday the league is in discussions with investors in hopes of having a team in time for next season.

The Monarchs won the WNBA championship in 2005 and the Western Conference title the following season.

While it was difficult to reach anyone in the franchise's offices Friday, the team said it would not comment further and directed inquiries to the WNBA. Some employees work for both the Kings and Monarchs, so it was unclear how many jobs might be lost.

"We enjoyed our time with the WNBA and the Monarchs," co-owner Joe Maloof said in a statement. "We are extremely proud of an amazing run that included six straight playoff appearances and the 2005 WNBA Championship."

Sacramento had several familiar faces in women's basketball: former Stanford star Nicole Powell, Olympic gold medalist Kara Lawson, and Courtney Paris, the former Oklahoma star who played at Modesto Christian as a freshman.

The franchise is scheduled to have the second pick in the 2010 WNBA draft.

"The Bay Area has been a desirable market for the WNBA and the availability of the Monarchs provides an opportunity to move a well-known franchise and broaden its fan base within Northern California," Orender said.

Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, which runs the NHL's San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion -- a potential WNBA venue -- could be an option.

The organization had not yet been contacted by the WNBA.

"Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment is always interested in listening to proposals to bring high-quality events into HP Pavilion at San Jose that are mutually beneficial to both the City of San Jose as well as our organization," SVSE president and CEO Greg Jamison said in a statement, responding to an inquiry by The Associated Press. "We have not had any discussion with the WNBA to bring a team to San Jose."

The Oakland-based Golden State Warriors support having a WNBA team playing in Oakland, but would not affiliate themselves with the franchise.