When Yolanda Griffith kicked a water cooler and stalked out of practice late in the season, Sacramento Monarchs coach John Whisenant fined her – yet he seemed secretly pleased.

Perhaps that’s because the coach recognizes his own passion in his veteran center. After all, Griffith was angry because of Whisenant’s biting instruction.

These two ferocious competitors might disagree at times, but they’re united by a common cause. They have willed the unsung, star-free Monarchs to the brink of their second WNBA championship with a devotion to defense and an uncompromising attitude that sometimes comes out a little rough.

After four successful seasons together in Sacramento, Whisenant said he “couldn’t have a better” team leader.

“There’s not a better one for my philosophy, for the way I preach defense, team play, unselfishness – hard-nosed, tough, never-say-die,” Whisenant said. “There’s not one that I know out there in the WNBA like her. I lucked out when I got Yolanda.”

With Griffith scoring 15 points in just 17 minutes to rest her arthritic 36-year-old knees, the Monarchs trounced Detroit 89-69 Sunday in Game 3 of the WNBA finals. Sacramento can close out the series Wednesday night at home.

The Monarchs had won just one playoff series in Griffith’s first four seasons with the club.

“He did a great job getting us focused on what’s really important,” Griffith said. “We never played defense like this before he got here. We got a new commitment.”