9/23/2005 - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Former Owl Named WNBA Finals MVP

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Former Florida Atlantic star Yolanda Griffith led the Sacramento Monarchs to their first WNBA title. The Monarchs defeated the Connecticut Sun 62-59 in Game 4 to take the 2005 WNBA title. Griffith, who led the team in scoring in every postseason contest, carried the Monarchs on her back throughout series, earning her Finals MVP honors.

The 35-year-old is a four-time WNBA All-Star, and has earned Newcomer of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and MVP honors since entering the league in 1999.

Her storied career has taken her from Carver High School in Chicago, Ill., to FAU, the Olympics and beyond.

While at FAU, Griffith led the Owls to a 20-8 record during the 1992-93 season. In just 22 games, she set many school records, including the all-time single-season points record with 621, averaging a school-record of 28.2 points-per-game.

Griffith's 1992-93 season was one of the best individual efforts in FAU history. She posted the best field goal percentage in school history (.631), and holds the record for most rebounds in a season with 352. Her 16 rebounds-per-game were also a school record.

Following that season, she was named Division II Kodak Player of the Year and earned Division II All-America honors. Griffith averaged 18.5 points and 9.8 rebounds-per-game in the WNBA Finals.