SACRAMENTO MONARCHS RE-SIGN DEMYA WALKER
Sacramento, Calif., July 21, 2008 -- The Sacramento Monarchs today announced the team has re-signed unrestricted free agent DeMya Walker. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.On May 15, 2008, the franchise requested waivers on Walker after she suffered a right knee patella fracture on April 27, 2008, while playing with her team, Nadezhda, located in Orenburg, Russia. She underwent successful surgery on May 2, 2008, under the care of Monarchs Team Doctor Richard Marder.
Walker, who was expected to be out six months, went through rehabilitation and has been cleared by team doctors to play the remainder of the 2008 season.
“I am honored and blessed to be back with the Monarchs,” said Walker. “I know my faith in God along with my family and the organization’s faith in me, including the fans’ support, is the reason I was able to recover so quickly.”
Walker has played five seasons with the Monarchs after being selected by the franchise as the fifth overall pick in the 2003 WNBA Dispersal Draft. She started five games for the Monarchs in 2007 before being sidelined with a knee injury. Prior to her injury, she was averaging 21 minutes, 8.8 points, 5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.6 blocks per game.
Through eight WNBA seasons, Walker has played in 200 games and averaged 21.1 minutes, 8.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. Additionally, the 2005 WNBA All-Star selection was an integral part of the Monarchs 2005 WNBA Championship team.
“We are extremely pleased to have DeMya back on the team,” said Monarchs General Manager John Whisenant. “We look forward to seeing her in a Monarchs uniform for the remainder of her career.”
The WNBA will take an Olympic break from July 28-August 23, 2008, to allow for WNBA players to compete for their respective National Teams at the 2008 Summer Olympics. During this break, remaining members of the Monarchs will be in Sacramento and take part in various activities.
Walker and the Monarchs return to ARCO Arena on Thursday, July 24, to take on the Phoenix Mercury at 11:30 a.m. in the team’s annual Camp Day game.
http://www.wnba.com/monarchs/news/A_Special_Message_from_DeMya.html