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WNBA Roundup Allen resigns as Monarchs coach; Miracle beat Liberty
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Sonny Allen resigned Monday after 2 1/2 seasons as coach of the Sacramento Monarchs. Assistant coach Maura McHugh, a longtime college coach and the former director of player personnel for the defunct ABL, will take Allen's place. Allen led the Monarchs to a 46-30 record and the only playoff berths in their history since joining the team in 1999. This season, he was unable to spark Sacramento's talented roster -- which includes All-Stars Yolanda Griffith and Ticha Penicheiro -- to a strong start. The Monarchs won 85-82 in Charlotte on Sunday to improve to 6-6 this season -- a disappointing mark, since Sacramento expected to claim a spot among the league's elite this season. Allen said his departure also marks his retirement from coaching. "When you are coaching, you reach a point when you decide it's time to retire," said Allen, whose coaching career spanned six decades. "This is never an easy decision for a coach or a player. Right now is the right time for me." Allen had shown increased frustration in recent weeks, particularly after his team's three losses at Arco Arena -- the same number of home losses they had all last season. "My decision stems from the stress I have put upon myself," Allen said. "Though we were at .500, I hated losing more than I enjoyed winning." Allen is a coaching veteran with more than 600 victories at the professional, college and high school levels of men's and women's basketball, in addition to time as an NBA scout. He started his coaching career at Marshall High School in West Virginia in 1959. McHugh joined the Monarchs as Allen's assistant prior to the 1999 season. Before taking her league position with the ABL, she coached the Long Beach StingRays in the 1997-98 season, leading them to a 32-22 record and a berth in the league title game. Assistant coaches Jim Les and Steve Shuman will remain with the team, McHugh said. "I know that this will be a big challenge," McHugh said. "It's a very tough league this year. However, I feel we have a great franchise, top management and a superb group of players. I am confident the rest of the coaching staff will help me get through this transition period." McHugh has a career head coaching record of 249-157 at Arizona State, Oklahoma and Penn State.
Washington to play host to 2002 All-Star GameWASHINGTON (AP) -- The Washington Mystics have been selected to play host to the 2002 WNBA All-Star Game at the MCI Center. The game will be played in mid-July of 2002, but the exact date has not been announced. "We are very excited to be showcasing the WNBA's brightest stars in our nation's capital," WNBA president Val Ackerman said. "Mystics fans have shown an incredible amount of enthusiasm for women's professional basketball, and it is fitting that we share with them one of our premier events." The Mystics have led the WNBA in attendance three times. The Washington Wizards played host to the 2001 NBA All-Star Weekend at MCI Center. The franchise also staged All-Star games in 1969 in Baltimore as the Bullets, and in 1980 in Landover, Md., as the Washington Bullets. "When the Mystics joined the WNBA family in 1998, we sought to embrace the excitement surrounding women's professional basketball," said Abe Pollin, part owner of the Wizards. "To be selected to host the WNBA All-Star Game represents the fulfillment of that vision." The event will be the league's fourth All-Star Game. The Orlando Miracle will play host to WNBA All-Star 2001 on July 16. Last year's game was played before 17,717 at America West Arena in Phoenix, where the Mercury served as host team. The New York Liberty played host to the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden.
Miracle 67, Liberty 54ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Nykesha Sales scored 14 of her 18 points in the first half as the Orlando snapped New York's seven-game winning streak Monday. Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 15 points and nine rebounds for Orlando (4-6), which won its third consecutive game. Guard Shannon Johnson scored 10 points in her first start since coming off the injured list. Vickie Johnson scored 23 points for New York (8-4). Crystal Robinson added 11 points. Tari Phillips, the league's eighth-leading scorer, had only two points and missed all six of her shots from the field for New York.
Lynx 55, Mystics 51WASHINGTON (AP) -- Katie Smith scored 22 points as Minnesota extended Washington's losing streak to seven games. Smith hit an NBA-distance 3-pointer and a pair of free throws in the final 2:32 to help seal the win for Minnesota (4-5). Chamique Holdsclaw led Washington (2-8) with 23 points on 8-for-19 shooting. The Mystics shot 26.2 percent, the second-worst performance in franchise history.
Storm 65, Starzz 47SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Lauren Jackson had 14 points and nine rebounds as Seattle won for the third time in four games. Rookie Semeka Randall hit eight consecutive free throws in the final 1:36 and finished with 12 points for Seattle (7-5). Natalie Williams led the Starzz (4-5) with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Jennifer Azzi had 13 points and four assists, and Marie Ferdinand added 10 points as Utah lost its fifth home game of the season.
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