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Chinese forward Sui signs with Monarchs
Known as Feifei, she may bring a Yao-like international flavor to the WNBA.
By Debbie Arrington -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, February 14, 2005
Sui Feifei, the undisputed queen of Chinese women's basketball, is now a Monarch.
With the blessing of the Chinese Sports Ministry, Sui has signed a free-agent contract with the Monarchs to make her WNBA debut this summer. The deal will be announced today by Maloof Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Monarchs and Kings.
Financial details were not released, but the WNBA minimum for rookie free agents is $32,000.
The Monarchs courted Sui, a 6-foot-1 small forward, for several months. A Sacramento delegation sought her out during the Kings' visit to Beijing last fall.
"Having been to China with the Kings last year, we have seen firsthand how significant basketball is in Asia," Kings and Monarchs co-owner Gavin Maloof said. "This is a great opportunity for the Monarchs to display the international excitement of women's basketball and grow the WNBA fan base."
She is known to millions of Asian fans as Feifei (pronounced FAY-fay).
"In terms of fame, Feifei is the Yao Ming of Chinese women's basketball," Monarchs coach and general manager John Whisenant said.
A three-time league MVP, Sui, 26, led Baiyi to four consecutive championships in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association, averaging 20.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 2004. An eight-year veteran and captain of China's national team, she averaged 16 points and six rebounds in the 2004 Olympics.
Sui told Chinese media last week she views her move to the WNBA as significant.
"I am so excited to join the Sacramento Monarchs," she said. "It is a great career opportunity for me to join the top basketball league in the world.
"Ever since I have been playing basketball, I always felt the pressure, and I know how to change it into motivation."
Because the WNBA plays a summer schedule, Sui can continue to play winters in China. She will be the second Chinese player to join the WNBA. The first was center Zheng Haixia, who played for the Los Angeles Sparks during the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997.
Whisenant has heard about Sui's talent for more than a year. Monarchs forward DeMya Walker, who played with Sui in the WCBA All-Star Game, touted her. So did assistant coach Monique Ambers, who faced Sui many times in the WCBA.
"She has good ballhandling skills and a nice shot," Walker said. "Her basketball knowledge is what stands out the most, in my opinion. She also is a great person."
Added Ambers: "Feifei is very athletic and a great basketball player. I think she will fit in well with our system. I'm happy that she's on our side and we don't have to play against her."
Sui could fill the Monarchs' needs for a true small forward and proficient scorer. Sacramento has used post players or guards at that position for several seasons with mixed results.
"It's no secret we need shooters," Whisenant said. "Feifei's a small forward that can run and shoot the ball well. We'll see how she fits in the WNBA."
Sui is expected to draw new international interest to the league as well as local Chinese-born fans to the Monarchs.
More than 20,000 Chinese immigrants live in the Sacramento area, according to census figures.
Two Chinese players - Houston's Yao and Wang Zhizhi of the Miami Heat - play in the NBA and have helped make the men's league extremely popular in their home country.
NBA games are shown on 14 TV channels in China and reach an estimated 314 million households.
More than 210 million people play basketball in China, which is looking ahead to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Sui's foray into the WNBA is expected to help elevate her game as well as that of Team China, which finished a disappointing ninth at the Athens Games. When Sui joins the Monarchs at their May training camp, she may not be the only Chinese import. Whisenant also hopes to sign guard Miao Lijie, who is awaiting her visa.
Known as Feifei, she may bring a Yao-like international flavor to the WNBA.
By Debbie Arrington -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Monday, February 14, 2005
Sui Feifei, the undisputed queen of Chinese women's basketball, is now a Monarch.
With the blessing of the Chinese Sports Ministry, Sui has signed a free-agent contract with the Monarchs to make her WNBA debut this summer. The deal will be announced today by Maloof Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Monarchs and Kings.
Financial details were not released, but the WNBA minimum for rookie free agents is $32,000.
The Monarchs courted Sui, a 6-foot-1 small forward, for several months. A Sacramento delegation sought her out during the Kings' visit to Beijing last fall.
"Having been to China with the Kings last year, we have seen firsthand how significant basketball is in Asia," Kings and Monarchs co-owner Gavin Maloof said. "This is a great opportunity for the Monarchs to display the international excitement of women's basketball and grow the WNBA fan base."
She is known to millions of Asian fans as Feifei (pronounced FAY-fay).
"In terms of fame, Feifei is the Yao Ming of Chinese women's basketball," Monarchs coach and general manager John Whisenant said.
A three-time league MVP, Sui, 26, led Baiyi to four consecutive championships in the Women's Chinese Basketball Association, averaging 20.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 2004. An eight-year veteran and captain of China's national team, she averaged 16 points and six rebounds in the 2004 Olympics.
Sui told Chinese media last week she views her move to the WNBA as significant.
"I am so excited to join the Sacramento Monarchs," she said. "It is a great career opportunity for me to join the top basketball league in the world.
"Ever since I have been playing basketball, I always felt the pressure, and I know how to change it into motivation."
Because the WNBA plays a summer schedule, Sui can continue to play winters in China. She will be the second Chinese player to join the WNBA. The first was center Zheng Haixia, who played for the Los Angeles Sparks during the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997.
Whisenant has heard about Sui's talent for more than a year. Monarchs forward DeMya Walker, who played with Sui in the WCBA All-Star Game, touted her. So did assistant coach Monique Ambers, who faced Sui many times in the WCBA.
"She has good ballhandling skills and a nice shot," Walker said. "Her basketball knowledge is what stands out the most, in my opinion. She also is a great person."
Added Ambers: "Feifei is very athletic and a great basketball player. I think she will fit in well with our system. I'm happy that she's on our side and we don't have to play against her."
Sui could fill the Monarchs' needs for a true small forward and proficient scorer. Sacramento has used post players or guards at that position for several seasons with mixed results.
"It's no secret we need shooters," Whisenant said. "Feifei's a small forward that can run and shoot the ball well. We'll see how she fits in the WNBA."
Sui is expected to draw new international interest to the league as well as local Chinese-born fans to the Monarchs.
More than 20,000 Chinese immigrants live in the Sacramento area, according to census figures.
Two Chinese players - Houston's Yao and Wang Zhizhi of the Miami Heat - play in the NBA and have helped make the men's league extremely popular in their home country.
NBA games are shown on 14 TV channels in China and reach an estimated 314 million households.
More than 210 million people play basketball in China, which is looking ahead to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Sui's foray into the WNBA is expected to help elevate her game as well as that of Team China, which finished a disappointing ninth at the Athens Games. When Sui joins the Monarchs at their May training camp, she may not be the only Chinese import. Whisenant also hopes to sign guard Miao Lijie, who is awaiting her visa.
