Rebekkah Brunson and Chelsea Newton play defense.

Every Monarchs game is important. Some games, however, the intensity is stronger than the rest. Those are rival games.
Monarchs-Sparks continues Thursday!

The Sacramento Monarchs have just one true rival.

Sure, the contests against the Seattle Storm have a considerable level of intensity ignited by the years of playoff clashes. To a degree, the level of intensity against the Detroit Shock may even outweigh that of the Monarchs rivalry with the Los Angeles Sparks -- but that is essentially equaled by all host teams when the Shock come to town with their proud and brash former NBA "Bad Boy" Bill Laimbeer. Similar to the Shock, many think of the Connecticut Sun as a Monarchs rival, due to the Playoff series-past that were equally talented and determined.

But, the Monarchs note two things that lead to one conclusion. A rival has to be within a team's conference, according to Kara Lawson. Secondly, and most important, there has to be a lengthy history that goes beyond just good playoff games or close contests, says Ticha Penicheiro.

The only team that fits the prerequisites is the Los Angeles Sparks.

This Thursday's game marks the longest-standing rivalry in WNBA history as the teams meet for the League-leading 42nd time. Sacramento-Los Angeles. Los Angeles-Sacramento. Wherever the game takes place, emotions run high and the intense emotions felt by Monarchs fans is only surpassed by the desire to win by the Monarchs themselves.

A chant that, according to Sports Illustrated's Jack McCallum, began in the early 1980s as the Celtics and Lakers met for the umpteenth time in their storied Playoff histories has since been embraced as Sacramento's own fight song when facing the neighbors to the South. It's one every Sacramentan knows well.

BEAT L.A.! BEAT L.A.! BEAT L.A.!

"We have a lot of history playing in the playoffs," Monarchs veteran Penicheiro said. "First they were beating us, and then we were able to beat them and go to the Finals, so I definitely think there is some kind of rivalry there. Our fans always love a chance to 'Beat L.A.' � they don�t say 'Beat New York' or anything."

Speaking of the Playoffs, the Sparks seemed insurmountable the first three times they met in the postseason as Los Angeles sent Sacramento home in 1999, 2001 and 2003. But in the prelude to their WNBA Championship in 2005, the Monarchs rid themselves of the so-called "Sparks monkey on their collective back" at STAPLES Center in 2004 and then did so again in 2005 and 2006. Needless to say, the Monarchs cemented the place of the rivalry in the history books by finally beating the Sparks in '03 and since have proven to be the team to beat.

The rivalry turns to a new and exciting chapter this Thursday. Gone is Monarchs center Yolanda Griffith and back is her former nemesis, WNBA legend, Lisa Leslie. But Leslie returns to California's capital for the second time in two seasons with a bolstered Sparks lineup. After spending three years in Washington D.C., DeLisha Milton-Jones has returned to Leslie's side, while the two are flanked by the WNBA's newest star, the first-overall pick in the 2008 Draft, Candace Parker.

Nicole Powell and Ticha Penicheiro.

Whether it's due to Parker's popularity and perfect marketing smile, or the combination of the stellar L.A. trio, the Sparks' first four road games were sold out, a League first.

As with the Kings-Lakers, the Monarchs-Sparks matchups bring out not only the most ardent fans, they also bring out the casual fan and fans from all regions of California. That's why Monarchs guard Scholanda Robinson was quick to smile and let even the fans that haven't been to ARCO Arena lately know their support is always appreciated.

"We know that we have loyal fans and we know how much our fans love us and support us, so we just have to ask them to continue to do that," Robinson said. "Come out and support us like they always have. I think for the most part, we�ve always given them a good show, so it�d be great for them to come out and support us again.

"There�s just that natural rivalry with being in the same state and having to prove who the best in-state team is."

Unlike the other four major American sports -- NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL -- the WNBA features just two interstate feuds -- Silver Stars-Comets and Monarchs-Sparks.

But, neither the Comets nor Silver Stars boast an anthem that has a legacy like "Beat L.A.!"

With a rich history and a passionate desire to win Thursday's game, the Monarchs still recognize and respect the talent of Los Angeles' new-look team, a franchise that one year ago had the worst record in the League.

"You just try to prepare to not stop her, but contain her," Robinson said of facing Leslie. "She�s a great player and you can�t shut out a great player, so you try to contain her as much as possible and make every shot hard for her. You make everything difficult, you prepare yourself to make it hard on her and not give her anything easy. You know she�s a great player and you know she�s going to get hers so you don�t want to give her any gifts."

While seeing a plethora of ads with Parker�s face and namesake time and time again could get old, like Lawson, Robinson has nothing but praise for and confidence in the future of Kings forward Shelden Williams' fianc�e, Parker.

"She�s got the total package," Robinson said. "She�s a well-rounded offensive player. She has so many different weapons she can pull from that when you take away one thing, it�s hard because she has another thing to go to. I think she�s a great player that has a great future in this league. She�s already started to prove that with the first few games of the season."

Don't think twice about the Monarchs desire to silence the hype around the Sparks as their words of praise speak volumes about the team's upstanding character. Meanwhile, the chant in Sacramento begins...

BEAT L.A.! BEAT L.A.! BEAT L.A.!