Walker Out

When Sacramento forward DeMya Walker was carried off the court in a stretcher on Saturday night, it was pretty clear her season was over. An MRI conducted today confirmed that, revealing a torn patella tendon and a sprained MCL in her right knee. Walker's season is over.

This latest setback has got to be tough for Walker, who sprained a ligament in the same knee in 2005, missing 12 games of an All-Star campaign. She returned to help Sacramento to the WNBA Championship. Walker missed the early part of 2006 after giving birth.

The Monarchs have learned to play without Walker over the last few years, but she certainly will be missed. Depth has always been key for Sacramento, and this cuts into it. The Monarchs still have Rebekkah Brunson and Yolanda Griffith up front, backed up by Adrian Williams. Sacramento signed Linda Frolich as a free agent after the news, and Nicole Powell has the ability to play power forward if the Monarchs go with a slightly smaller lineup.

Sacramento still has plenty of talent, but in the competitive Western Conference, a small drop-off could be the difference between the playoffs and the lottery.

In the extreme short term, Brunson has a strained right shoulder which kept her out of Saturday's game. If Brunson is unable to play on Thursday against the Storm, that would leave Sacramento with Griffith and Williams as their primary frontcourt players.