Monarchs Add Fifth Overall Draft Pick, Kara Lawson to Roster

SACRAMENTO, CALIF., April 29, 2003 - Sacramento Monarchs General Manager Jerry Reynolds announced today that the organization has traded Guard Kedra Holland-Corn to the Detroit Shock in exchange for Guard Kara Lawson.

A 5’8” guard from the University of Georgia, Holland-Corn was initially selected by Sacramento in the second round (#14 overall) of the 1999 WNBA Draft. A four-year veteran on the Monarchs team, Holland-Corn averaged 39 percent in field-goals, 33 percent in three-point shooting and 71 percent from the free throw line. Before joining the Monarchs, Holland-Corn played for the San Jose Lasers of the ABL from 1997-1999 where she averaged 10.3 points per game (.429 FG%, .344 3pt%, .769 FT%), 2.9 rebounds per game, and 2.2 assist per game.

In exchange for Holland-Corn, the Monarchs received Guard, Kara Lawson, originally selected by Detroit in the first round (#5 overall) in the 2003 WNBA Draft. A 5’8” guard from the University of Tennessee, Lawson was named to the Associated Press All-America Second Team in 2003. Lawson was a four-time member of the All-SEC First Team (2000 - 2003). She holds the Tennessee career mark for three-pointers made (256), and led the SEC in three-point field-goal percentage as a freshman (.436). In Sacramento, Lawson will be reunited with Chantelle Anderson, drafted by Sacramento in the first round (#2 overall), whom she played with on the gold-medal winning U.S. World University Games Team in 2001.

“It is very difficult to trade a quality player and person like Kedra,” said Monarchs General Manager Jerry Reynolds. “She has meant a lot to this franchise, we wish her the very best and hope this move will be good for her career. The opportunity to get a young, potential star like Kara Lawson is great for the Monarchs. She has the ability to play two different positions, both the point and the off-guard. And of course, anytime you can get one of the all-time greats from the University of Tennessee, you have to be thrilled.”

The Sacramento Monarchs will play their sole home preseason game on Thursday, May 15, versus the Seattle Storm at 7 p.m. at ARCO Arena. The first of seventeen home games will be played against the Phoenix Mercury on Opening Night, Friday, May 30, at 7 p.m. at ARCO Arena. Sacramento’s regular season will begin on the road on Thursday, May 22, at the Phoenix Mercury at 7 p.m. at America West Arena. Fans are asked to call (916) 419-WNBA for information about tickets.