Teams around the WNBA picked at the carcass of the Monarchs today, as the league held a dispersal draft of players from that recently-folded franchise.
The Monarchs folded in November, when the Maloof family — owners of the Sacramento Kings — decided to “re-focus” their business. The league attempted to find a new ownership group and move the team to the Bay Area, but wasn’t able to find a new owner quickly enough. The league hopes to place a new team in Northern California in time for the 2011 season.
The Monarchs were one of the WNBA’s eight original franchises, and won the league championship in 2005. Of those original franchises, only four — the New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury and San Antonio Silver Stars (originally the Utah Starzz) are still in business.
NBA commissioner David Stern recently told a Sports Illustrated reporter that he thinks women will play in the NBA. Some skeptics have interpreted Stern’s statement as an attempt to prop up interest in the WNBA, or as an attempt to “soften the blow” for players and fans when the league is folded.
WNBA Holds Dispersal Draft of Sacramento Monarchs Players originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 15:20:58.
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