And then there were seven.

Not the amount of games the Sacramento Monarchs won during their season-high win streak, or the number of teams still in the hunt for the Western Conference crown, rather, the number of games left in the regular season, which will decide the Monarchs standing in the as-tough-as-it's-ever-been Western Conference Playoff race.

Rebekkah Brunson

"This is a tough year," Monarchs forward Rebekkah Brunson said. "I mean, the West is extremely stacked. If you look at the standings even the team in last place is only a couple games out."

It's fitting the season would come down to this, especially with five of the final seven games taking place over a week’s time. With just six games separating the Western-leading San Antonio Silver Stars and the last place reigning WNBA Champion Mercury, there's no better way to decide who deserves a shot at the 2008 WNBA Championship than seeing who rises and falls under the pressure of the final games after the 32-day Olympic break.

As the lone West team to face only conference competition during the final stretch, Sacramento will tip-off against each conference opponent at least once, while playing the Comets, who remain just a half game behind the Monarchs for the fourth and final Playoff spot, twice.

"They're extremely important," Brunson said of the Monarchs season series with conference foes. "We focus on them throughout the year, just knowing that we have to win these Western Conference games, and we definitely have to take care of home court. And that's going to be extremely important during these last seven games, because there isn't one game we can take for granted, or one game we can slip up on, especially with them all being conference games."

So what kind of team has the character to withstand the rising pressure? The answer is in the question.

"We definitely epitomize being a team," Brunson said. "We work together, we work for each other and we enjoy watching other people excel and other people on the team succeed. We have a lot of character, we have a lot of determination, we have a lot of will to win and we enjoy it."

The Monarchs weren't ready for this kind of pressure a month ago, as they've grown so much as the season has gone on, now, it's another story.

The team, although it has four rookies, is mostly a veteran bunch that opposing teams will fear down the stretch.

"Any given night it could be (anyone on our team's) night," Penicheiro said. "So we are all always ready because we count on everybody, and (opponents) know that our defense is what keeps us moving and keeps us going. Teams know once we get to the Playoffs, defense and rebounding win championships."

Ticha Penicheiro

Defense is something Sacramento has gained a reputation for during Penicheiro's duration as the team's point guard. Couple that with the way the Monarchs up-tempo offense has caused havoc lately and opponents have a lot to worry about.

"A key for us is to play hard on both ends," Brunson said. "I think in the past we depended solely on our defense, playing quick on the defensive end. We didn't really rely on our offense in the past. But, now I feel like we're confident with our offense as well. And if we come out and play our defense the way we need to, it will put us into position to win games. And when we turn our offense up, I honestly feel like it's guaranteed that we're going to win."

And when the going gets tough, as it undoubtedly will due to the quality of competition in the League, Penicheiro says the team has gained resolve in its last 27 games.

"We have four rookies and I think at this point in the season they've played so many games and they've had so many practices that they are comfortable enough, and we trust everybody," Penicheiro said. "The only thing we talk about is not take any possession for granted, because seven games go by fast and the next thing you know the season is over."

Should the Monarchs stand as one of the final four Western Conference teams, the pressure and fun will begin anew.

"It gets harder," Penicheiro said of each successive Playoff run. "I think this one, we'll make it, and it'll have a different taste. In previous seasons we were always one of the top teams in the West, as far as the media and the experts picking us. And this year, I think we were picked last. So it will probably have a different taste because we can prove people wrong. And just knowing that, even with a young team and some of the stuff with DeMya (Walker) being hurt and Yo (Griffith) leaving, we still fought through it and had a great season. So, I think that's what counts. When it's harder and people doubt you, it tastes better."

How does the axiom go?

Without the bitter, the sweet just wouldn't be as sweet.