New York, NY -- (Sports Network) - The WNBA is currently involved in talks to move the Sacramento Monarchs franchise to the Bay Area.

The league released a statement Friday revealing it is actively pursuing investors in that region, since Maloof Sports and Entertainment -- which also owns and operates the NBA's Sacramento Kings -- will no longer operate the Monarchs.

"The Bay Area has been a desirable market for the WNBA and the availability of the Monarchs provides an opportunity to move a well-known franchise and broaden its fan base within northern California," said league president Donna Orender.

The Monarchs were one of the WNBA's original eight teams when play commenced in 1997, and took home the league title in 2005 and a Western Conference crown in 2006.

Encompassing the cities of San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland, the Bay Area has been home to professional basketball since 1962, when the Philadelphia Warriors moved to San Francisco. The club moved across the bay to Oakland in 1971 and is currently known as Golden State.

The WNBA already saw one of its clubs relocate since the conclusion of the 2009 season, as the Detroit Shock moved operations to Tulsa, Oklahoma.