SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 20 (Ticker) -- Yolanda Griffith and the Sacramento Monarchs showed the Phoenix Mercury that they have a long way to go before they are considered championship contenders.

Griffith and Nicole Powell scored 14 points apiece as the defending champion Monarchs opened the WNBA's 10th season with a 105-78 thrashing of the Mercury.

NBA TV highlights from Mercury-Monarchs: Play

The MVP of Sacramento's WNBA Finals victory over Connecticut last year, Griffith showed she still is one of the league's best post players, shooting 5-of-11 from the field and grabbing eight rebounds.

Coming off a 16-18 campaign where it just missed the playoffs after a late-season slide, Phoenix struggled in its debut with an up-tempo offense under new coach Paul Westhead, making just 39 percent (31-of-79) of its shots and committing 20 turnovers.

Diana Taurasi hit four 3-pointers and scored 14 points for the Mercury, who started strong by grabbing a 17-4 lead.

However, the Monarchs battled back, going on a 20-0 run in the second quarter to eventually pull ahead, 49-30, at halftime. Ticha Penicheiro had all five of her points and Scholanda Dorrell added four of her 10 during the spurt.

Erin Buescher scored 18 points for Sacramento before leaving bloodied in the final minute after getting hit by an elbow in her left temple.