Raise Your Voice, Sky fans! The 2008 season is finally upon us. There were several exciting changes to the Sky roster this year, starting with the addition of 6’6” rookie Sylvia Fowles, selected out of LSU with the second overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft. New Sky Head Coach Steven Key has his sights set on getting the Sky into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history…and it all starts tonight!

Returning to the squad this year are two-time WNBA All-Star Candice Dupree and last year’s WNBA Rookie of the Year, Armintie Price. Last season Dupree led the Sky in both points (16.4) and rebounds (7.6) per game. Price led all rookies in rebounds (6.0) and steals (1.18) in 2007, and finished 4th among all rookies in scoring with an average of 7.9 points per game. Veterans Dominique Canty and Chasity Melvin return for their second season with the Sky and their tenth season in the WNBA. Sixth Woman of the Year finalist Jia Perkins, Kayte Christensen, Cathy Joens and Brooke Wyckoff are also back. Four-year veteran point guard K.B. Sharp joins the team from Indiana, in a trade for Bernie Ngoyisa. Rounding out the roster are rookie guard and three-point specialist Quianna Chaney (who was Fowles’ teammate and roommate at LSU) and forward Brooke Queenan, who made the team as a training camp invitee.

The Monarchs made an early exit in last year’s playoffs, losing to the San Antonio Silver Stars in the first round. They are led by veteran Kara Lawson, who is coming off her best season as a pro, averaging a career-high 11 points per game. Rebekkah Brunson had a breakout season last year, averaging 11.5 points and 8.9 rebounds, and will be a force to be reckoned with this season.

Marquee Matchup

Dupree vs. Brunson
Two All-Star power forwards will battle tonight. Their games are a contrast: Dupree is a finesse scorer, whereas Brunson is more of a force on the boards and is a capable scorer who gets the majority of her points down low.

Perkins vs. Lawson
Perkins has a terrific mid-range game and has the ability to be an explosive scorer. Lawson, a member of USA Basketball National Women’s Team, is a hard-nosed competitor who is not afraid of showing her emotion.