Laura Harper News

The demise of the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs certainly did not please Connecticut Sun coach Mike Thibault.

As most basketball fans know, the WNBA plays its league schedule during the summer, traditionally the off-season for basketball.

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

There were several ways Monarchs coach John Whisenant could have described the play of forward Rebekkah Brunson.

Nicole Powell had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Rebekkah Brunson scored the winning layup with 36 seconds left to help the Sacramento Monarchs beat the Indiana Fever 79-78 on Saturday night.

With nine games left this season, Monarchs coach and general manager John Whisenant has an idea about what his team must improve next year.

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.

The Liberty's #4 Janel McCarville tries to block a shot by Monarchs' # 22 DeMya Walker in the first half during the game between the Sacramento Monarchs, and the New York Liberty at Arco Arena on Friday.

The Liberty's #4 Janel McCarville tries to block a shot by Monarchs' # 22 DeMya Walker in the first half during the game between the Sacramento Monarchs, and the New York Liberty at Arco Arena on Friday.

Sacramento Monarchs employee Leon Richardson pulls tape off the wall at a new learning center at St.

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 .

Monarchs Tisha Penicheiro and Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Silver Stars go for a loose ball in the second half at Arco, Arena July 30, 2009.

Men's basketball: The Memphis Grizzlies' Rudy Gay scored 27 points on 11-for-12 from the field in the White team's 100-81 loss to Blue at the USA Basketball Showcase in Las Vegas.

Nicole Powell scored a career-high 32 points and had nine rebounds to lead Sacramento to an 88-73 win over the New York Liberty on Thursday night, snapping the Monarchs' six-game losing streak.

Asjha Jones poured in a game-and-season- high 28 points with 10 rebounds as Connecticut downed Sacramento, 83-75. Sandrine Gruda posted 12 points while Lindsay Whalen added 10 with five assists for the Sun, winners in four consecutive games.

Sacramento Monarchs Hamchetou Maiga-Ba drives to the hoop and mixes it up with Kara Braxton of Detroit in the first half of their game at Arco Arena July 19, 2009.

John Whisenant, the former coach who has retaken the reins after firing Jenny Boucek on Sunday.

Former OU star got off to a slow start but is learning her role. Monarchs center and former OU star Courtney Paris battles the Mercury's Le'coe Willingham during a WNBA game last month.

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