Campbell Returns in a Statement Game

Fighting breast cancer, Edna Campbell returned to the court Tuesday night to help the Sacramento Monarchs beat the Seattle Storm, 59-51, in the final game of the WNBA regular season.

Undergoing radiation treatment after two surgeries and months of chemotherapy, the 33-year-old guard scored four points on two-of-five shooting shooting in 13 minutes. She was hugged by players from both teams afterward.

Campbell received a standing ovation when she was introduced before the game, and the fans stood again and cheered when she entered the game early in the first half.

“It’s just a statement to those going through cancer, breast cancer, and those who have been touched by breast cancer, and it’s just a symbolic thing I wanted to do just to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Campbell told CNN on returning to the basketball court.

Campbell, the first active WNBA player to be diagnosed with breast cancer, received the WNBA Community Assist Award in July for her outreach work.

“That noise the crowd made was love and support,” Campbell said. “I was a little overwhelmed at first with the crowd behind me. This was pretty memorable.”

“I was happy about everything tonight. It’s great to end the season this way.”

Yolanda Griffith had 19 points, and Tangela Smith added 17 for the Monarchs (14-18), who won 10 of their last 12 games.

Reserve center Simone Edwards scored 14 of her 18 points in the second half for Seattle (17-15).

Vodichkova had 12 points, and Lauren Jackson added 11 points for the Storm, which won seven of its final nine games to clinch a playoff berth.

Seattle, which secured its first playoff berth with a victory Sunday night at Utah, will face defending champion Los Angeles in a first-round, best-of-three series. The opener is Thursday at 7 p.m. in Seattle.