In their first game of the franchise's 12th WNBA season, the Monarchs showcased why fans should Expect Great basketball this summer.

"San Antonio is a good team. We know that from last year and they are a really stingy team defensively and hard to get a rhythm against, so I'm pleased," Monarchs head coach Jenny Boucek said. "We showed great perseverance and resilience and got a lot of good minutes from a lot of good people and we found a way."

Sacramento surged to a 7-0 lead against the Silver Stars to begin the Home Opener Saturday and never looked back.

Showcasing their own stingy defense from the get-go, the Monarchs swiped three steals in the first three minutes, while also introducing fans to their new-look offense that was just as swift as advertised -- at least to begin the game. The Monarchs 7-0 lead swelled to a 14-5 lead less than four minutes in.

Boucek praised starting point guard Ticha Penicheiro's vision on both ends of the court in the Monarchs Season Preview and Penicheiro's talent was at its best from the start. She snatched two early thefts and found Kara Lawson behind the 3-point arc after the second, which led to a crowd-erupting trey by Lawson. As the ball tickled the twine, Lawson raised her hands high in the air and the fans and Monarchs MVPs jumped to their feet and exploded with excitement.

"I love playing at ARCO," Rebekkah Brunson said. "Everybody came out and showed their support. Everybody was loud and everybody cheered us on. It put us in a good mood and gives us some momentum to start the season."

Penicheiro, who enjoyed her first WNBA offseason without playing extensively overseas, ignited the Monarchs early run by tallying two points, four assists and two steals in the first seven minutes. She finished with six points, seven assists, five rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot.

While Penicheiro used the offseason to revitalize her mind and rehabilitate her elbow, Brunson took her game to Russia for the winter months. Happy to be back, Brunson picked up where she left off last season, turning in a team-high tying 13 points, game-high nine rebounds and three blocks.

Her frontcourt running mate, Adrian Williams-Strong, made sure to calm anyone's worries of how the Monarchs would fare without Yolanda Griffith by reminding everyone of her deftness around the rim and savvy defensive play. Williams-Strong scored 10 points, brought down seven boards and helped limit Silver Stars center Ruth Riley to seven points on 2-of-6 shooting from the field and just three rebounds in 23 minutes.

"She was hungry," Brunson said griming. "She came out and did a great job for us."

Sacramento held the Silver Stars to 32 percent shooting from the field and 21 percent from 3-point land, while also outrebounding the Silver Stars 42-30.

Despite the home team's strong defense and rebounding effort, the Silver Stars battled back from multiple 10-point deficits by disrupting the Monarchs offense to the tune of a game-high 23 turnovers. The Silver Stars also beat the Monarchs on the offensive glass 16-14 and scored 17 second-chance points.

Feeling the effects of the Monarchs team defense, led by the early ball pressure of Penicheiro and rookie A'Quonesia Franklin, Silver Stars All-Star Becky Hammon shot just 4-of-19 from the field and finished with 11 points and three turnovers. Sophia Young, meanwhile, did her best to compensate for Hammon's off-night by scoring 22 points, corralling four boards and committing nary a turnover.

In her rookie debut, Monarchs 2008 first-round pick Laura Harper tallied 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks while showing that she doesn't mind acquiring a few bumps and bruises, diving on the ground and fighting for loose balls. Like Harper, Franklin, who dished two assists and grabbed two steals, also showed the kind of tenacity and hustle that has defined Monarchs basketball.

"We just tried to play defense. That's who we are and that's who the Sacramento Monarchs are -- a defensive team," Franklin said.

The Monarchs take to the road for a three game swing that covers the Northwest, Midwest and Northeast in a span of five days as they take on the Storm, Sky and Sun.

Catch the Monarchs next game, Tuesday at 7:30 pm. on ESPN 2 and Sports 1140 KHTK as the Monarchs take on former teammate Yolanda Griffith in Seattle.

Closing thought:

The Monarchs had the support of their NBA brethren Saturday as Kings forward Ron Artest assisted with color commentary on both radio and TV, while Quincy Douby and Kings assistant coach Randy Brown enjoyed the game courtside.

"I had a lot of fun," Artest said. "It was hard for the first couple of minutes, but [Kings radio and TV personnel] helped me feel comfortable. It was fun and they won the game, so it's all good.

"They have a good team," Artest added. "I think they are better than last year."

Douby agreed with his teammate's analysis, "the Monarchs are a good team and they represent Sacramento, also, so we are here to support them."

Philadelphia 76ers guard Andre Miller was also in the building to support the WNBA and watch Great Basketball.

Fans in attendance for Opening Night not only witnessed Great Basketball, but an extravaganza of free stuff! The Monarchs Discover Card Crew and the Monarchs Fly Girls tossed out gifts all night, including Nintendo Wiis, Bluetooths, Best Buy gift cards, T-shirts as well as a portable a DVD player and a giant flat screen TV!