Movie titles like "Iron Man," "Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" and "Made of Honor" highlight the early lot of summer blockbusters in theaters. At the same time, notable newly released DVDs include "First Sunday," "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and "Mad Money." The common thread among them is that the Monarchs have viewed them all.

Whether it's in the theater, at home, or in a hotel, watching movies is one of the staples for players' downtime.

"It’s kind of like my second job," La'Tangela Atkinson said without so much as smirking. "When I get done with practice, I go home, put a movie in and lie down and relax. If I don’t go home and watch movies, I feel like I need to be in the gym."

While Tangie admits to watching as many as three movies per day in the comfort of her Natomas-area home, her teammate, Rebekkah Brunson, says she sees about two movies per week, always in the theater.

"I’ve always liked to relax and chill and movies are a good way to have some downtime," the Monarchs athletic forward said. "I like going to the movies. I like going and getting my large soda, some popcorn, some nachos. It gives you the opportunity to be fat in the dark. Because when you sit in the back, nobody knows you're stuffing your face [Laughs]."

Among them, the Monarchs could start a fearsome team of movie buffs, including but not limited to, Adrian Williams-Strong, Chelsea Newton, Kara Lawson, Atkinson and Brunson.

Atkinson only buys a movie if she fell in love with it the first time she saw it. Newton, like her defensive-style, takes more chances. She eagerly awaits Tuesdays so she can scoop the latest releases, even those she hasn’t seen before.

Meanwhile, the food and theater loving Brunson usually saves her DVD viewing for her many months of offseason play abroad. And though the All-Star boasts about the team's unity, she has a hard time finding a teammate that's interested in seeing the kind of movies she likes.

"It’s hard because nobody wants to go to the scary movies with me," Brunson said with a sigh. "So I go see them by myself. I like action and scary movies. I like all movies, really.

"I like talking about them, that’s why I try to get them to go to the movies with me so afterwards we can talk about them. Everybody wants to go see all these love stories and stuff. I want to see something exciting."

While Brunson searches for a friend to share the thrill of a scary movie, Atkinson admits she can watch her favorites, by herself, over and over.

"If a basketball game isn’t on, I watch movies from about 5:30 p.m. to about whenever I go to sleep, maybe 12 or 1 a.m.," Atkinson said anticipating her next movie with practice in the review mirror. "I put a movie in, then a second one in. Then I start the third one. I don’t know if I finish the third one – the TV might be watching me – but I end up watching them until I go to sleep."

As Atkinson falls asleep to the comfort of one of her favorite flicks and her teammates enjoy another love story, Brunson anticipates the next horror release.

"Actually, there’s a new movie coming out… what’s it called? ’The Strangers‘ – have you seen the previews for that?"

"I want to go see that, but I cannot get any one of the Monarchs to go see that movie with me!”

"You’re walking home, looking behind you… I like those."

What a good way to put herself in the oppositions' shoes.