Rainbow Wahine's Roper signs WNBA contract
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
University of Hawai'i senior Christen Roper has signed a free-agent contract with the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs and will report to training camp tomorrow.
Draft Day came and went quietly for Roper, who was not chosen Friday. Two days later, the volume turned up on her basketball career.
ROPER
The Monarchs called Roper's agent, Eric Wiesel, with a free-agent offer that makes Roper the second Rainbow Wahine to reach the WNBA.
"Regardless of whether she makes (the team) or not," Wiesel says, "she will forever be known as a WNBA player because now she is one."
Judy Mosley, the first Rainbow Wahine basketball All-American, was the third pick in the inaugural WNBA draft in 1997. She played for the Monarchs and Los Angeles Sparks before continuing her career overseas.
A Monarch spokesperson said 19, including returning players, are on the training camp roster. A team of 14 will be named by May 11, when Sacramento plays its first preseason game. The regular season begins May 22.
If Roper makes the cut, the minimum rookie salary is $30,000. The league finalized its labor agreement hours before Friday's draft, which was cut from four to three rounds because of contract problems. There was also a dispersal draft of players from two teams that folded.
"I figured I wouldn't be drafted because it wasn't going to be four rounds," Roper said. "I thought there was a slight chance and, of course, I was disappointed. But I knew there were a lot of other post players getting a lot more coverage than I was and they looked more appealing."
Roper is a 6-foot-5 center from Ojai, Calif. She was the most dominant defensive player in Rainbow Wahine history, finishing with a school- and Western Athletic Conference-record 303 blocks. Roper averaged 10 points and 8 rebounds her final year, helping Hawai'i to its fourth consecutive WNIT appearance.
According to Wiesel, a lawyer in Sacramento, the Monarchs are looking for a true center to take post pressure off former WNBA MVP Yolanda Griffith, a forward who has had to do the bulk of the team's rebounding.
Tangela Smith started every game at center last year, when Sacramento finished sixth in the West, but Smith also is considered more of a forward. The Monarchs took Vanderbilt All-American Chantelle Anderson, a 6-6 center, with the second pick of the draft.
"They need a big body to take the pressure off Yolanda," says Wiesel. "They need someone who rebounds, blocks shots and can be a defensive intimidator in the league. That will free up their three scorers.
"Christen has a chance. It will be very hard for her to make the team as an undrafted free agent. But if she plays her heart out every second she'll make them think about her. And they need the help."
If Roper does not make the final roster, she could get picked up by another WNBA team. Indiana and Los Angeles also expressed interest after the draft. Her other option is to play overseas. A WNBA training camp appearance would enhance her chances in Europe.
"The rule of thumb overseas is, the taller you are the better chance you have to play for a competitive team," Wiesel said. "I'd try to find her a competitive team in a safe country. Then she could be exposed to the WNBA scouts that go over there, and work on her game."
Sacramento is flying Roper to California today.
Two WAC players were drafted in the first round. Louisiana Tech's Cheryl Ford was taken third by Detroit. Tulsa's Allison Curtin was the 12th pick, by Houston, which traded her to Detroit soon after.
