Monarch forward DeMya Walker suffered a right knee patella fracture and is expected to be out six months. The Monarchs announced on May 2 that Walker underwent successful surgery and a complete recovery is expected.

“This is a hard blow for DeMya, as hard as she worked at her rehabilitation during the offseason,” said Monarchs General Manager John Whisenant. “It’s also hard news for the franchise, but we can deal with it.  This will be an opportunity for the other posts on our roster to step up and especially for the young ones to strut their stuff.”

The injury occurred on April 27, 2008, while Walker was playing with her team, Nadezhda, located in Orenburg, Russia. An X-ray and evaluation conducted at the UCD Sports Medicine Clinic by Dr. Richard Marder confirmed the injury.

On June 2, 2007 versus the Los Angeles Sparks, Walker suffered a patellar tendon tear to her right knee with 4:12 remaining in the first quarter at ARCO Arena. She conducted her rehabilitation in Sacramento during the 2007-08 offseason, where she fully recovered and was cleared by team doctors to play overseas.

Walker has played five seasons with the Monarchs. She started five games in 2007 before being sidelined with the knee injury.

It was the first game for several of Sacramento’s WNBA Draft picks, who made their impact felt in the game.