Last Updated on July 31, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latasha Byears | Starter/Star (1.1) | 27.6 | High (1.2) | 14.2 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 62.83 | Worked as Sacramento’s primary interior scorer, attacking the offensive glass and embracing physical matchups every night. Associated Press game coverage regularly highlighted her ability to swing games with hustle plays and second-chance scoring, including a pivotal late three-point play against Los Angeles early in the season. (washingtonpost.com) | |
| Ticha Penicheiro | Starter/Star (1.1) | 36.0 | Medium (1.1) | 6.3 | 4.7 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 50.34 | Everything flowed through Penicheiro as the rookie point guard, with Sacramento relying on her vision and tempo control despite limited scoring. Contemporary coverage consistently identified her as one of the league’s premier distributors, routinely piling up assists while orchestrating nearly every half-court possession. (Los Angeles Times) | WNBA All-Rookie Team (1998) |
| Tangela Smith | Key Contributor (1.05) | 25.3 | Medium (1.1) | 9.6 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 40.19 | Added athleticism and shot-blocking from the frontcourt while expanding her offensive role as the season progressed. Game reports frequently noted her breakout scoring nights, including a 20-point effort that sparked one of Sacramento’s key victories. (Wikipedia) | WNBA All-Rookie Team (1998) |
| Ruthie Bolton | Key Contributor (1.05) | 26.6 | Medium (1.1) | 11.0 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 35.42 | Returned for only a handful of games but remained the club’s emotional leader, attacking defensively and creating offense from the wing. Independent previews entering the following season stressed that her recovery from knee surgery would be central to Sacramento’s fortunes. (Los Angeles Times) | |
| Lady Grooms | Starter/Star (1.1) | 26.4 | Medium (1.1) | 7.1 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 29.77 | Filled an efficient complementary role, defending multiple positions while finishing opportunities around the basket. Contemporary reporting often highlighted her willingness to accept difficult defensive assignments without needing high usage. | |
| Linda Burgess | Starter/Star (1.1) | 23.1 | Low (1.0) | 7.5 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 33.22 | Supplied reliable interior minutes through rebounding, physical screens and dependable finishing in the paint. Game coverage occasionally singled out her scoring bursts, including a career-best performance late in the season. | |
| Adia Barnes | Key Contributor (1.05) | 21.3 | Low (1.0) | 7.6 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 25.83 | Played an energetic wing role, bringing defensive intensity and attacking in transition whenever opportunities developed. Independent coverage viewed her athleticism as an important part of Sacramento’s rotation despite inconsistent scoring. | |
| Franthea Price | Bench (1.0) | 14.6 | Low (1.0) | 4.9 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 17.60 | Served primarily as a floor-spacing reserve guard whose outside shooting opened the offense in second-unit lineups. Contemporary reporting specific to her season was limited because of her supporting role. | |
| Pauline Jordan | Bench (1.0) | 13.7 | Low (1.0) | 3.3 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 16.20 | Added experienced frontcourt depth with rebounding and interior defense in limited minutes. Independent season-specific coverage was limited due to her reserve workload. | |
| Nadine Domond | Bench (1.0) | 10.2 | Low (1.0) | 3.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 11.80 | Filled reserve point guard duties and looked to keep the offense organized when Penicheiro rested. Contemporary independent reporting was limited because of her brief appearances. | |
| Rehema Stephens | Bench (1.0) | 10.1 | Low (1.0) | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 11.00 | Saw limited opportunities as a reserve wing, providing defensive effort and occasional perimeter shooting. Independent coverage specific to her role was sparse. | |
| Bridgette Gordon | Bench (1.0) | 11.5 | Low (1.0) | 2.7 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 9.80 | Transitioned into a reduced role after being a starter the previous season, offering veteran stability whenever called upon. Contemporary reporting focused more on Sacramento’s evolving younger core than her limited minutes. | |
| Quacy Barnes | Bench (1.0) | 5.3 | Low (1.0) | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 4.00 | Appeared only briefly in the rotation, providing size and rebounding in short stints. Independent contemporary coverage was limited because of her small role. | |
| Tiffani Johnson | Bench (1.0) | 5.3 | Low (1.0) | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 4.60 | Logged only spot minutes in the frontcourt, leaving little opportunity to establish a consistent role. Independent reporting on her season was limited. | |
| Sacramento Monarchs Totals | 88.7 | 36.9 | 23.0 | 14.9 |