NEW YORK – The WNBA is in active discussions with potential investors to relocate the Sacramento Monarchs to the Bay Area in time for the start of the 2010 WNBA season, league President Donna Orender announced today.  Going forward, Maloof Sports & Entertainment will no longer operate the Monarchs.

“The Bay Area has been a desirable market for the WNBA and the availability of the Monarchs provides an opportunity to move a well-known franchise and broaden its fan base within Northern California,” said Orender. “Maloof Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Monarchs, has deemed it essential to focus all of its resources on the Sacramento Kings at this time. We understand this decision was a difficult one for them and appreciate the vision, leadership, and support of the Maloof family over the past 10 years.

“The Maloofs have shown a passion for women’s basketball and seen the WNBA as great entertainment that has a positive impact on the way society views women and sports. They take great pride in the Monarchs’ players, both for their contributions on the court and in the Sacramento community.”

One of the league’s original eight teams in 1997, the Monarchs won the WNBA championship in 2005 and the Western Conference crown in 2006. Featuring former Stanford player and WNBA All-Star Nicole Powell, Olympic gold-medalist and WNBA All-Star Kara Lawson, and Piedmont, Calif. standout Courtney Paris, the team also holds the second pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft.

“We enjoyed our time with the WNBA and the Monarchs,” said co-owner Joe Maloof.  “We are extremely proud of an amazing run that included six straight playoff appearances and the 2005 WNBA Championship.  All of our resources are now dedicated to bringing the Sacramento Kings back to championship caliber form.”

About the WNBA

The WNBA is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity.  Composed of 13 teams, the WNBA is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world.  The WNBA finished the 2009 regular season with a third consecutive year of increased attendance and a second straight season of increased viewership on ESPN2.  For the 2009 WNBA Finals presented by adidas, average viewership on ESPN2 jumped 76 percent from a year ago.  The five-game series also featured three sellouts plus the highest total attendance figure (82,018) in WNBA Finals history.

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education.  For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.