DeMya Walker News

In this file photo from Sept. 20, 2005, Sacramento Monarchs DeMya Walker, from left, Ticha Penicheiro, Kara Lawson, and Olympia Scott-Richardson celebrate as the hold up the WNBA Championship Trophy after defeating the Connecticut Suns 62-59 to win the title in Sacramento, Calif.

This will be something new for Monarchs coach and general manager John Whisenant.

The Monarchs in last place. Doesn't seem possible. It's been what, seven years since they failed to make the WNBA playoffs? Four years since the championship parade down J Street? Four years since their last conference title? John Whisenant is not a patient man.

The Sacramento Monarchs will close out the 2009 season at 6 tonight at Arco Arena against the Minnesota Lynx.

Monarchs vs. Lynx When: 6 p.m. Where: Arco Arena. TV: WNBA LiveAccess on WNBA.com. Radio: KHTK .

The season of Monarchs forward Nicole Powell will go down as one of the best in franchise history.

Last season, the San Antonio Silver Stars clinched a playoff berth in early September.

Erika de Souza had 27 points and 13 rebounds, and Angel McCoughly added 26 points and 10 assists in the Atlanta Dream's 98-90 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs on Friday night.

Rebekkah Brunson scored a career-high 32 points and had 13 rebounds, leading the Sacramento Monarchs over the slumping Connecticut Sun 90-70 Tuesday night at Arco Arena.

Kelly Miller scored a team-high 18 points, and Roneeka Hodges and Nicky Anosike each went for 17, as the Minnesota Lynx got by the Sacramento Monarchs, 100-95, at the Target Center.

Iziane Castro Marques scored a game-high 30 points, as the Atlanta Dream continued their march toward the playoffs with a 103-83 win over the Sacramento Monarchs.

The Washington Mystics and Sacramento Monarchs kept the WNBA's top two teams from clinching playoff berths.

There are several ways to deal with injuries. If you are Monarchs coach John Whisenant, a tongue-in-cheek denial of the injury is the way to go when it comes to forward Rebekkah Brunson.

There's a point in games when the Monarchs, who have the worst record in the WNBA, are supposed to fold.

John Whisenant is a believer in his white line. It's his defensive philosophy. It's about constant ball pressure, crisp rotations and everyone being in the right place or the whole thing can fall apart.

Monarchs at Silver Stars When: 5 p.m. Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio. TV: LiveAccess on WNBA.com Radio: KHTK .

Candace Parker had 13 points and 12 rebounds, and DeLisha Milton-Jones also scored 13 points in the Los Angeles Sparks' 59-56 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs on Saturday night.

August 3, 2009 - The 2009 WNBA season and the Pick One Challenge heads into August with plenty of basketball left to be played.

The Monarchs' #21 Ticha Penicheiro lays the ball up over Sparks defender #10 Kristi Harrower in the first half during a game between the Sacramento Monarchs and the Los Angeles Sparks at Arco Arena on Saturday.

Monarchs vs. Sparks When: 7 p.m. Where: Arco Arena. TV: LiveAccess on WNBA.com. Radio: KHTK .