SACRAMENTO, CALIF., Jan 21, 2004 – The Sacramento Monarchs will host the Minnesota Lynx on Opening Night, Saturday, May 22, at 7 p.m. at ARCO Arena. This will be the first of seventeen regular season home games for the Monarchs. Sacramento’s season will begin on the road on Thursday, May 20, at the Phoenix Mercury at 7 p.m. at America West Arena.

In 2003, the Monarchs sold out Opening Night, versus the Phoenix Mercury, marking their second consecutive sell-out for the franchise. Overall, Monarchs attendance figures have continued to increase over a three-year period. The Monarchs 2003 WNBA Playoff attendance was also impressive as ARCO Arena averaged crowds of over 12,000, second best in the WNBA.

Last year the Monarchs finished the second half of the season with an 11-4 record, tying Detroit for fewest losses after the All-Star break as both teams entered the playoff race. Sacramento advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the second time in franchise history and concluded the season three wins short of a championship.

Several Monarchs earned places in the record books during the 2003 season including forward Yolanda Griffith, who finished the year ranked among the top five in the WNBA in 10 different categories. Guard Ticha Penicheiro also had an outstanding season as she set a new WNBA record (10 steals in a game) and finished the season as the league leader in assists per game for the sixth consecutive year. Ruthie Bolton, Tangela Smith and Griffith surpassed the 2,000-point plateau, while Edna Campbell, Lady Grooms, and Penicheiro, reached the 1,000-point milestone.

The 2004 schedule will feature the Monarchs four times on national television: June 19, vs. the 2003 WNBA Champion Detroit Shock; July 29, vs. Los Angeles Sparks; September 12, at Los Angeles Sparks; and September 16, vs Houston Comets. The Monarchs will face Houston, Los Angeles, and the Seattle Storm four times (twice at home and twice on the road), Phoenix and the San Antonio Silver Stars three times and all Eastern Conference teams twice (once home and once away).

The WNBA will take an Olympic break from August 2-31, 2004, to allow for WNBA players to compete for their respective national teams at the 2004 Summer Olympics. During this break, the Monarchs will stay in Sacramento and take part in various activities. Please visit the team website www.SacramentoMonarchs.com for more information on Monarchs activities during the Olympic break.

Following is the 2004 Monarchs regular season schedule, including key facts:

KEY FACTS ABOUT THE SACRAMENTO MONARCHS 2004 SCHEDULE

By month, the schedule breaks down as follows: May (1 home, 3 away = 4 total), June (6 home, 2 away = 8 total), July (7 home, 6 away = 13 total), September (3 home, 6 away = 9 total).

By day, the schedule breaks down as follows: Monday (0 home, 1 away = 1 total), Tuesday (0 home, 2 away = 2 total), Wednesday (0 home, 2 away = 2 total), Thursday (6 home, 4 away = 10 total), Friday (1 home, 2 away = 3 total), Saturday (6 home, 3 away = 9 total), Sunday (4 home, 3 away = 7 total).

The Monarchs longest homestand is five games, which includes contests against Washington (July 18), Phoenix (July 22), Indiana (July 25), Los Angeles (July 29), and Charlotte (July 31).

Sacramento embarks on four road trips of two or more games in length. The longest is a five-game journey with stops in Seattle (July 3), New York (July 6), Connecticut (July 9), Minnesota (July 11), and Detroit (July 12).

Sacramento will play all teams in the Eastern Conference twice, with the Monarchs taking on each team at home first, excluding Indiana.

The Monarchs will play 25 games (14 home, 11 away) before the Olympic break and nine games (3 home, 6 away) after.

Click here for the complete 2004 Monarchs schedule.
All game times are Local to Sacramento (Times Tentative and Subject to Change)

Fans are asked to call (916) 419-WNBA for information about season ticket plans.