Break Up the Sacramento Monarchs…literally.

The WNBA is now officially one team smaller, with Tuesday’s announcement that players from the disbanded Sacramento Monarchs would be divvied up among the other teams.  The team, which was owned by the Joe and Gavin Maloof, was actually disbanded at the end of November, but today’s dispersement draft announcement made it clear that the WNBA would be shortened one team going into the 2010 season.

The Maloofs also own the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, who’s financial struggles were certainly a contributing factor in the disbanding of the Monarchs.

The Maloof brothers, Joe and Gavin, were dedicated owners who often attended games. They even spotted teams the past two years to play round-robin scrimmages in Las Vegas, staying at their posh hotel. But they also own the Kings, which are in financial trouble along with most of the NBA. The family is reportedly trying to move the Kings.

Turn on any game that LeBron and Kobe aren’t playing in and the empty seats are startling. It’s early — NBA attendance usually picks up in January. Yet, numbers are bad even for them. The Maloofs, who have been trying to get a new arena and have made bad decisions on the NBA end, are opting to focus on that end. (via Seattle Times)

WNBA officials had been hoping that a Bay Area investment group would swoop in and purchase the team, but the time period was simply too short.  Officials have not ruled out a team in the Bay Area, a viable market according to WNBA insiders, and they are preliminarily looking at a 2011 start date.

All of that aside though, the disbanding of the Monarchs again brings the long term viability of the WNBA into question.  The Houston Comets disbanded in December of last year, and they were followed by the Monarchs this year.

Both teams had previously won a WNBA championship and had enjoyed success in the league.

How viable is the WNBA as a league when they rely on the NBA for some of their revenue, and both leagues are struggling financially?  The WNBA has already reduced roster size (to 11), placed sponsorship on game jerseys, and teams have a salary cap of under $1 million.

All of that and successful teams are being disbanded?

I’d like to hope that this isn’t a sign of further things to come, but once is a mistake, twice is a habit.

Lets hope that the WNBA breaks this habit sooner rather than later.

Tags: Basketball, disbanded teams, Maloof Brothers, Sacramento Monarchs, WNBA, women

Category: Basketball