Second Chinese player signs with Monarchs

[HoopMatron]

http://news.newkerala.com/world-news/?action=fullnews&id=74342

Chinese guard Miao Lijie has become the second player from the country to join the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA in four days, a report said today.

The 24-year-old guard from Heilongjiang Chenneng signed a one-year contract with the Monarchs on Friday. Her wage would be 10,000 USD, Xinhua news agency said.

Miao will pair up with her national team-mate Sui Feifei, who signed with the Monarchs on February 16.

"I'm very excited to play for the Monarchs. My mom even cried when I called and tell her the news," Miao was quoted as saying. "My family has given me full support to go to the WNBA. I won't let them down." Miao and Sui will not travel to Sacramento until April, when they play for their respective teams in the preliminary round of the 10th National Games in March. Sui is a member of the military club, Bayi.

Miao and Sui are expected to come back to play the Asian Championship in June, when the WNBA season is still on.

"We haven't discussed the coming-back for the Asian Championships. The first thing is to let them go and play in the WNBA," said Bai Xilin, the manager of the national team.

US basketball teams have been trying to tap China as a source of both fan support and players like Shanghai-born Houston Rockets star Yao Ming.

There are a couple of interesting things in here -- first, the minimum guaranteed salary is much higher than $10K, so either they haven't done the currency conversion right or this is a training camp only amount.

Second, both players will return to China in June? I don't think so, if they make the roster. That could be a deal-breaker.

HoopMatron

 

[slugking50]

Maybe I'm crazy but weren't thre alot of talk about these 2 players joining the Monarchs back when the Kings were in China in October? I seem to remember thats was part of the reason why the Maloofs and Jerry Reynolds was there.

 

[Lightforms]

Maybe I'm crazy but weren't thre alot of talk about these 2 players joining the Monarchs back when the Kings were in Japan in October? I seem to remember thats was part of the reason why the Maloofs and Jerry Reynolds was there.

Yup, that's exactly what was said in the last article about Fai fai.

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."

 

[DWalkfan22]

10,000 USD?? , I hope that doesn't stand for U.S.Dollars

 

[Purple Reign]

10,000 USD?? , I hope that doesn't stand for U.S.Dollars

Man if that is the case
They might as well play for free.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

So are they going to play some of the season and then go back to China and play in the Asia games?

 

[6th]

So are they going to play some of the season and then go back to China and play in the Asia games?

That's what it sounds like to me. If so, it could explain what we view as an awfully small sum to play for the Monarchs.

Also, I think someone mentioned that the contract may be a "temporary contract" and could be for more if they "make the team."

 

[ReinadelosReys]

That's what it sounds like to me. If so, it could explain what we view as an awfully small sum to play for the Monarchs.

Also, I think someone mentioned that the contract may be a "temporary contract" and could be for more if they "make the team."

Then why do it, from a Monarchs perspective. Get a player, have them potentially impact you team only to have them leave during the season?

 

[Luv13fan]

Yup to that...

Then why do it, from a Monarchs perspective. Get a player, have them potentially impact you team only to have them leave during the season?

Totally agree with that.

The impact is really significant because they take up valuable roster space, even if the financial impact is minimal.
Whiz still has some important moves to make this off season.

I... for one, am really interested to see what they are.

 

[Still JD]

It's official - Lijie signed a one-year contract with the Monarchs yesterday.

Also, Mendiola also signed a contract with the Monarchs. (I guess I had assumed she was already under contract...whew!)

Finally, Seattle did not match the Mercury's offer, so Phoenix now has Vodichkova.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Phoenix got the one thing they needed to make solid noise in the West - a banger in the middle who can get boards. We always seemed to have problems keeping a body on her. Six of one half dozen of the other that she's not in Seattle anymore I guess.

 

[The Cutter]

Any new clarification on Giuliana's status?

Also, Mendiola also signed a contract with the Monarchs. (I guess I had assumed she was already under contract...whew!)

Hi! I haven't visited the Forum for a while but feel impelled to drop by and to ask the question - What is Giuliana's real status?

I believe last season she had just a year's contract so re-signing would be a necessity ----- but ----- there are some loose ends which worry me.

-- Not one word about Giuli on the Monarch's website - neither her summer action in Greece nor her signing. Every other trade and free agent signee has been mentioned "prolifically";

-- As noted above, Giuli was specifically mentioned in the WNBA Transaction:

March 6

".....The Sacramento Monarchs announced the signing of Miao Lijie and Giuliana Mendiola......"

http://www.wnba.com/transactions/WNBA_2005.html


-- BUT, on the associated "Player Movement Central" page, Giuli does not appear - while - once again every other transaction is detailed.

2005 WNBA Player Movement Central

http://www.wnba.com/features/player_movement_05.html


So - does anyone know for sure where Giuli stands in the Monarch's organization?

One thing for sure, the Monarchs are going to be a "different" team this coming season - and - with all the newly acquired free agents and veterans, everyone is going to be scrambling to make the roster.