Roper signs with WNBA Monarchs
By Misty Volaski

Christen Roper, who starred for Nordhoff's girls' basketball team during the late 1990s and later for the University of Hawaii, is taking the next step. Though she's still finishing up her classwork and finals, she's relocated to Northern California this week, where she's trying out with the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs.

"It's very exciting just to be able to get this chance," Roper said after practice Monday. "It's just a good experience all the way around."

Standing 6 feet, 5 inches, Roper played center in high school and in college, where she set several records on the defensive end. Her 110 blocks in her senior season helped her to set University of Hawaii school records for blocks per game, blocks in a season, and blocks for a career. She also holds the career Western Athletic Conference record for blocked shots.
She "very much" considers herself primarily a defensive player but says training camp with the Monarchs has provided a wonderful opportunity to expand her skills.

She said she's working hard to develop more of an offensive game at a brand new position. "It's still something I'm learning, still something I need a lot of improvement in," said Roper. In Sacramento, she's been working out against different defenders and practicing game situations in scrimmages.

She said it's all very team-oriented so far and that she's got a simple focus. "You just concentrate on what you need to improve on."


Now she's being asked to play power forward and the pressure is on her to handle the ball more and provide more of a perimeter scoring threat.

"Up here I've been playing a lot of four spot, which is new to me. But I'm doing the best I can at it," she said. In the past, coaches specifically told her not to dribble, to let smaller players handle the ball. "Now I have to excuse all that out of my head and do whatever they tell me," she said. "You just do it, you don't really think."

Everybody in camp has signed a contract but Roper said it isn't like the NBA, where salaries are guaranteed. "I'm not guaranteed anything," she said. "I can get cut anytime coach feels like it." The roster will be trimmed to 11 players by Sunday but Roper said she isn't feeling any pressure. There are plenty of alternatives, should she not make the squad.

She talked about trying to get on with another team and playing overseas. "I'm ready to keep playing, that's for sure," she said. "There's girls on the team right now that are 30, 35 years old. They've told me, 'You've got 10 more years of basketball in you.' It's about your desire."

She says she could come back and play in the Ojai Recreation League with her sister, as she's done for the past four years, at any time. For now, she's going to pursue her dream.
She says one thing that helps is the support she's received from people in Ojai and Hawaii and from her teammates in Sacramento.

"Everybody up here is really awesome," Roper said. "It doesn't matter if you're drafted, an invitee, or been here for a while. Everybody's just really nice."

© 2003 The Ojai Valley News

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