Coach John Whisenant Rocky Widner NBAE/Getty Images

A heartbreaking end to the 2004 season left the Monarchs bewildered after a decisive Game 3 loss to the eventual Champion Seattle Storm in the Western Conference Finals. The 2004-05 offseason proved even more confusing to WNBA experts and fans when Head Coach and General Manager John Whisenant made some gutsy personnel moves in hopes of reloading an aging Sacramento franchise. Most experts were initially critical of the makeover and lost faith in the squad. That is, until the Monarchs took it upon themselves to prove that the true brilliance laid in these changes, bringing great team chemistry, an emphatic home-court advantage, and a defense known simply as �White Line.�

Offseason Changes:
Free agency and blockbuster trades created a lot of player movement in the offseason, bolstering some WNBA squads and leaving uncertainty in many others. In Sacramento, we first saw the signing of two Chinese stars, Sui Feifei and Miao Lijie. They were superstars in the Eastern hemisphere and had shown signs that they might be able to help a team that had struggled from three-point range.

A few weeks later, Coach Whiz raised eyebrows around the league again as he traded forward Tangela Smith and the Monarchs 2006 second round draft pick to the Charlotte Sting for Erin Buescher, Nicole Powell, and Olympia Scott-Richardson. Next, the first round of the 2005 WNBA Draft brought Michigan State point guard Kristin Haynie to Sacramento, fresh of the heels of leading the Spartans to the NCAA Finals. In the second round, the Monarchs selected the 2005 Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Chelsea Newton. At this point, it was clear that Sacramento was going to be a different team than the perennial playoff contender that fans were used to. But the question remained, would it be a �reloading� year as Whiz had promised, or one in which an older franchise would be scrapped and rebuilt?

Kristin Haynie and Chelsea Newton

Few fans could agree on a prediction, but even fewer expected the changes that had yet to happen. On May 9, Sacramento made the decision to release guard Ruthie Bolton. A fan favorite and the original face of the franchise, Bolton�s ties with the Monarchs were not easy to break. However, �The Original Monarch,� didn�t go far as she agreed to remain with the franchise in the front office as manager of Monarchs fan and team relations.

Nine days later, center Chantelle Anderson was traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars for a 2006 first round pick. While Whiz seemed confident in his moves, experts, such as ESPN analyst Ann Meyers, predicted that the team would not be able to adjust to the changes and would not make the playoffs.

Regular Season Begins: The Monarchs spent the first four games of 2005 on the road with relative ease, losing only one outing, on June 1 at Indiana, by one point. When they returned to ARCO Arena for their home opener against long-time rival Los Angeles Sparks, the Monarchs lit up the scoreboard with strong offensive efforts from Griffith, Nicole Powell, and DeMya Walker. Perhaps more importantly, Sacramento�s trademark defense also proved its effectiveness as the Sparks committed 15 turnovers and were held to 33 percent shooting from the field. 2004 WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie shot 0-for-7 and finished with three points, all from the charity stripe. Suddenly, the common prediction that Los Angeles would win the 2005 WNBA Championship didn�t seem as realistic.

Yolanda Griffith Rocky Widner NBAE/Getty Images

Sacramento would only lose three more games in June, but those losses were reality checks that stuck with the team for the remainder of the season. One week after that triumphant Opening Day win, the Monarchs fell to the Sparks in Los Angeles. Sacramento later dropped both regular season contests against the defending Eastern Conference Champion, Connecticut Sun. In those losses, inconsistencies in execution of the exhausting defensive strategy and a lack of offensive rhythm prevented the Monarchs from finding victory. After Connecticut, the Monarchs continued on their longest road trip of the season, an exhausting coast-to-coast (five games in eight days) roller coaster that would take the team into the All-Star break. They emerged 3-2 from that trip, thankful to get a break and recuperate. Walker and Griffith each got the nod to join the Western Conference team in Connecticut. It was Walker�s first All-Star nomination and Griffith�s fifth as the West extended its undefeated streak to six games. Griffith�s 12 points and 14 rebounds made her an arguable MVP candidate for the game.

2005 WNBA All-Stars Jennifer Pottheiser NBAE/Getty Images

A Record-Setting Second Half: As the second half of the season opened, the Monarchs were intent on solidifying their spot atop the Western Conference and improving their game enough to make a run for a title. Fans in Sacramento provided a clear home-court advantage, as the Monarchs were an amazing 10-1 at home after the break. Despite unfortunate injuries to key players, the team chemistry and selfless play were making the squad stronger. A 40-point victory against Detroit seemed to give the Monarchs enough momentum to carry them through what would become a seven-game winning streak from July 24 through August 7 (a new franchise record for consecutive wins). They won those games by an average of 17.3 points, the final buzzer never sounding with them ahead by less than 10. The run took them well into August, when the league would announce that Sacramento had secured it�s sixth playoff berth in seven years as well as home court advantage for the first two rounds.

A major milestone for the franchise came on August 18, during halftime against San Antonio. That night, Ruthie Bolton became the first Monarchs player to have her jersey retired. It was an emotional night as Bolton received a standing ovation while her #6 jersey was raised to the rafters. She reminisced on the great years she had playing with veterans Griffith and Ticha Penicheiro, also noting the faith she had in the younger players and that this could be the Monarchs team to finally win a Championship.

Ruthie Bolton Rocky Widner NBAE/Getty Images

Playoffs: Mastery of the defensive game and concentrated offensive improvement became the focal points for Sacramento as the regular season drew to a close. Together, they had achieved the first goal of getting to the playoffs as well as the second goal of earning home court advantage. One game behind the league leading Connecticut Sun, the Monarchs knew the hardest battles were yet to be fought. With the bitter taste of disappointment still lingering from the 2004 Playoffs, the Monarchs knew this could be their best shot yet.

A competitive energy was renewed in Sacramento. A spark was lit, and the thunderous ARCO Arena crowd fanned the flame with fans donning new purple and silver wigs, as well as a new tagline, �2005, All the Way Live!� After squeaking by with a Game 1 victory at Los Angeles, the Monarchs returned strong to their home court to sweep the Sparks with an 81-63 win in the First Round. The effort from the Monarchs bench was instrumental in the victory, outscoring the Sparks reserves 27-8. Prior to the start of Game 2, Coach Whisenant was named the 2005 WNBA Coach of the Year and Nicole Powell received the 2005 WNBA Most Improved Player award; two individual awards in which both winners referred to the team surrounding them as keys to their success.

Olympia Scott-Richardson NBAE/Getty Images

As they returned to the Western Conference Finals, the Monarchs knew they were taking on a much-improved Houston Comets team. Again, untimely injuries threatened Sacramento�s chances. Penicheiro went out with a sprained ankle that occurred in practice and Lawson was forced to take over the reigns of leadership. Lawson, last a true point guard in college, provided a seamless transition and kept her team motivated. But it was an astonishing three-pointer at the buzzer in Game 1 from Powell that sent the game into overtime and rejuvenated the Monarchs enough to earn them the eventual victory.

Upon returning to Sacramento for Game 2, the Monarchs were determined to come out strong and stay ahead. Off the continued leadership of Kara Lawson at point guard as Penicheiro recovered on the bench, the Monarchs played selfless basketball and opened up an early lead. They extended that lead to as many as 16 points and never looked back before closing with a 74-65 victory. The Monarchs had done the unimaginable. For the first time in franchise history, they were Western Conference Champions!

2005 WNBA Finals: After sweeps in the first two rounds of the Playoffs, the Monarchs were destined to take on the only team that had swept them during the regular season. They met the Connecticut Sun for Game 1 of the league�s new five-game Finals format on September 14. The mayors made their traditional bets, the national television cameras were focused, and the Mohegan Sun Arena was packed. It was clear throughout the game that the Monarchs had made improvements since they last faced the Sun. The difference again came down to the relentless defensive pressure the Monarchs applied, forcing 15 turnovers by the Sun. While the lead went back and forth, it ultimately landed on the side of Sacramento; the Monarchs were triumphant, 69-65.

Rebekkah Brunson, DeMya Walker and Olympia Scott-Richardson Andrew D. Bernstein NBAE/Getty Images

Game 2 did not progress as fortunately for the Monarchs. Even without their star point guard, Lindsay Whalen, the Sun maintained a close game throughout. A breakdown in Sacramento�s defense in the final seconds allowed a wide-open three-pointer from Connecticut�s Brooke Wyckoff. Those three points sent the game into overtime, during which the Sun produced a 7-0 run. The loss tied the series, sending both teams to Sacramento, each two wins away from a Championship.

What the Monarchs found back at ARCO Arena was a major part of what they knew had gotten them this far � the fans. Game 3 provided more than 14,000 deafening fans intent on bringing the city its first WNBA Championship. The support made a clear difference. Griffith led the game again with another double-double effort, 19 points and 11 rebounds. The Sun fought hard in the final half to stay within reach of victory. It appeared to be all the effort Connecticut could muster though, as the Monarchs strong bench performance and defensive pressure, again opened the final 11-point margin of victory.

Game 4 was not for the faint of heart. It was a Championship caliber game in every sense of the word. Looking at the final box score, one can easily see how close it was. Statistics were shockingly close in nearly every category. The game came down to the final seconds and a three-point shot by Nykesha Sales to tie. Sales shot an airball though and with a fraction of a second remaining Sacramento called a timeout. The realization of what was about to happen sent chills through the Arena. As the ball was inbounded to Kara Lawson, time expired and the electric ARCO crowd erupted with canons of confetti. Preseason predictions mattered no more. Sacramento was a Championship city and the Monarchs were WNBA royalty.

Kara Lawson

Lawson, incidentally, has reportedly been sleeping with that ball she caught, at the end of Game 4, ever since. It was also reported that the mayors made good on their friendly wager, Joseph Jaskiewicz of Montville, Connecticut donned a Monarchs jersey for an entire day of city council meetings recently. And rumor has it that the team captains have been working on the design of the Championship rings.

It was a season of numerous records for the Sacramento Monarchs. They were regular season Western Conference Champions. Their 25 regular season wins and their final record of 25-9 were both franchise-bests. Never before had the Monarchs played as well on their home court, finishing the regular season 15-2, including a franchise record eight consecutive home wins. During their August run, Sacramento set a franchise best for consecutive wins with seven, which also ties the WNBA record for the end of a season. They continued their amazing streak of 229-straight games in which they scored at least one three-pointer from behind the arc, before finally ending the run in the final game of the regular season.

It was an amazing season for the players individually as well. Nicole Powell was a large contributor to the team�s three-point streak, once going 10 straight games with at least one three-pointer and then later going on a 19-game streak to close out the season. Ticha Penicheiro dished out her 1,500th career assist in July, maintaining a commanding lead as the WNBA�s all-time assist leader (1,591 as of 8/27/05). Yolanda Griffith, who can now add WNBA Finals MVP to her list of accomplishments, also managed to remain the WNBA�s all-time offensive rebound leader with 818. The Monarchs led many of the league�s statistical categories in 2005, and even more found themselves at least in the Top 10. But while each player had her own individual strengths, they all pointed to their defensive philosophy, their selfless team play, and the amazing Sacramento fans as the keys to the most incredible award of all.

Despite all the preseason uncertainty, one thing became very clear over the course of 2005: the Sacramento Monarchs were the best team in the WNBA and deservingly secured the WNBA crown atop ARCO Arena. As the banners rise, the rings are designed, and the imminent offseason moves begin once again, they and their thousands of loyal fans don�t plan to take a chance on loosening their title grip anytime soon.

Gavin and Joe Maloof accept the Key to the City of Sacrmento Rocky Widner NBAE/Getty Images