Monarch Coach Allen Resigns, Blaming Stress

Sonny Allen resigned Monday after 2 1/2 seasons as coach of the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs.

Assistant coach Maura McHugh, former coach of the defunct American Basketball League Long Beach StingRays, will replace Allen.

Allen led the Monarchs to a 46-30 record and the only two playoff berths in their history. The Monarchs won, 85-82, in Charlotte on Sunday to improve to 6-6.

“My decision stems from the stress I have put upon myself,” Allen said in a statement. “Though we were at .500, I hated losing more than I enjoyed winning.”

Allen has more than 600 victories at the professional, college and high school levels.

In Monday’s WNBA games:

Orlando 67, New York 54--Nykesha Sales scored 14 of her 18 points in the first half at Orlando, Fla., as the Miracle (4-6) ended the Liberty’s seven-game winning streak before 6,282.

The Miracle trailed by seven points four minutes into the game. Orlando then scored 18 unanswered points for a 20-9 lead.

Vickie Johnson scored a season-high 23 points for New York (8-4), which never got closer than 10 points in the second half.

Minnesota 55, Washington 51--Katie Smith scored 22 points at Washington as the Lynx (4-5) handed the Mystics (2-8) their seventh consecutive loss before 13,823.

Seattle 65, Utah 47--Lauren Jackson had 14 points and nine rebounds as the Storm (7-5) beat the Starzz (4-5) before 5,833 at Salt Lake City.