Much like last year's annual Meet the Monarchs event at Arden Fair, the weather outside felt very much like the warmth that radiated inside the mall as fans and passersby had the opportunity to get to know this year's team, which tips-off Sacramento's 12th WNBA season this Saturday.

The two-hour extravaganza featured performances by the Hip Hop Crew, the Monarchs Breakers, the Discover Card Crew (who threw out a ton of Monarchs gifts), the Monarchs loveable mascot Monty and, of course, the entire Sacramento Monarchs team.

"We're getting to meet the Monarchs, getting some one-on-one with them and getting some signatures, just watching them and having a good time," Monarchs MVP Sandra Vilchez said smiling after meeting her favorite player, All-Star forward Rebekkah Brunson.

An exciting addition to this year's event was the opportunity for Monarchs MVPs and Monarchs players to team up on the SportCourt set up inside the mall, to compete against fellow MVP-player duos in a contest that was just like the WNBA All-Star Celebrity Shootout. Needless to say, after weeks of rigorous training camp drills and scrimmages the players were thrilled to join forces with their biggest supporters in the name of fun.

"We're just reaching out to the fans and getting to know them and they are getting to know us," Monarchs center Valeriya Berezhynska said. "I had a really good time shooting! I wish I would have made more baskets, but it was very fun."

The Monarchs staple on the court is unity and defense. Off the court, while the defense rests, the unity remains. The team's great chemistry was apparent as the players’ smiles only grew as they shared laughs with one another as well as autographs, pictures and kind words with the fans. What fans may not realize is that they, too, are a source of great inspiration.

"I love the fans and my fans are my inspiration," La'Tangela Atkinson said thoughtfully. "Because when I am on the court and I hear or see them, it just gives me motivation and gives me that extra boost of energy to play more aggressive defense and that extra energy to go after the offensive board. So I am happy to be here and support them and just hang around them, without being on the court."

The Monarchs open their 12th WNBA season at ARCO Arena as they take on their 2007 WNBA Playoffs First Round opponent, the San Antonio Silver Stars, on May 17 at 7 p.m., PDT, with local television coverage on News10.

To join "the wild crowd" that Vilchez says is the best part of being a Monarchs MVP at the team's Home Opener, click here to buy tickets today. Expect Great Basketball all summer at ARCO Arena!

Monarchs 2008 Schedule
Click here to buy tickets to Saturday's Monarchs vs. Silver Stars at ARCO Arena!