As one of the twelve inaugural WNBA teams, the Sacramento Monarchs are highly considered to be the last great frontier that the 916 ever witnessed. With the Hall of Fame enshrinement of Monarchs legend Yolanda Griffith earlier this month, it’s hard to believe that it’s been sixteen years since the team was 1. Existent and 2. The best in the league.
It was almost a decade after the WNBA had been established that the Monarchs would see playoff success. Prior to their Finals victory in 2005, the Monarchs had lost to the Seattle Storm in the Western Conference Finals of 2004.