Chinese guard Miao Lijie became the second Chinese player signing with the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA in four days.
   
The 24-year-old guard, from Heilongjiang Chenneng, had signed a one-year contract with the Monarchs on Friday. Her wage is US$10,000, according to reports of website sina.com.
   
Miao will team up again with her national teammate Sui Feifei, who signed with the Monarchs on Feb. 16.
   
"I'm very excited to play for the Monarchs. My mom even cried when I called and tell her the news," Miao was quoted as saying bysina.com on Friday. "My family give me full support to go to the WNBA. I won't let them down."
   
Miao and Sui will not travel to Sacramento until April, when they play for their respective teams in the preliminary round of the 10th National Games in March. Sui is a member of the military club, Bayi.

Miao and Sui are expected to come back to play the Asian Championship in June, when the WNBA season is still on wing.

"We haven't discussed the coming-back for the Asian Championships. The first thing is to let them go and play in the WNBA," said Bai Xilin, the manager of the national team.

(Xinhua News Agency February 19, 2005)