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Detroit Shock
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The Detroit Shock is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Detroit, Michigan. They were the 2008 WNBA champions.
Debuting in 1998, they were one of the league's first expansion franchises. They are also the first WNBA expansion franchise to win a WNBA Championship. The team is the sister team of the Detroit Pistons and is coached by Pistons legend Bill Laimbeer.
Uniforms: White with the team's logo of the stylized Detroit Shock name, in black and blue, over a WNBA basketball at home.
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Encyclopedia
The Detroit Shock is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Detroit, Michigan. They were the 2008 WNBA champions.
Debuting in 1998, they were one of the league's first expansion franchises. They are also the first WNBA expansion franchise to win a WNBA Championship. The team is the sister team of the Detroit Pistons and is coached by Pistons legend Bill Laimbeer.
Uniforms: White with the team's logo of the stylized Detroit Shock name, in black and blue, over a WNBA basketball at home. Blue with the word "Detroit" across the front for the road jersey.
Franchise history
The Shock were one of the first WNBA expansion teams and began play in 1998. The Detroit Shock quickly brought in a blend of rookies and veterans. The Shock's first coach was hall of famer Nancy Lieberman. The Shock would start out their inaugural season 0-4, but would put together an amazing expansion season, and finish 17-13, missing out on the postseason by one game.
In 1999, the Shock finished 15-17, in a three way tie for the playoffs with the Orlando Miracle and the Charlotte Sting. The Shock and Sting played a one-game playoff, which the Shock would lose 60-54.
In 2000, the Shock would finish with a 14-18 record and would once again end tied for the last seed. This time, the Shock would lose the tiebreaker and not qualify. After the season in the 2001 WNBA Draft, the Shock would draft Deanna Nolan with the #6 pick. She would later develop into the team star. The 2001 Shock would finish the season with a 10-21 record, this time tying three teams for last place in the Eastern Conference.
The 2002 Shock would now finish dead-last in the East with a franchise worst 9-23 record. After the season, Nancy Lieberman was fired and former Detroit Pistons legend Bill Laimbeer was brought in as coach. Laimbeer's ideas influenced the team's front office, who agreed with the new coach's ideas; including bringing over some new players that he felt were necessary for the Shock to become a contender.
After massive changes to the roster, Laimbeer predicted before the 2003 season that the Shock would be league champions, and his prediction would unbelievably come true. The Shock would tear up the East in the regualar season, posting a 25-9 record and winning the #1 seed by 7 games. In the playoffs, the Shock would defeat the Cleveland Rockers 2-1 for their first playoff series win in franchise history. In the Conference Finals, the Shock swept the Connecticut Sun 2-0 to reach the WNBA Finals. Despite the achievements, the Shock were viewed as huge underdogs to the two time defending champion Los Angeles Sparks, who were looking for a three-peat. The Shock would emerge victorious in the series, winning a thrilling Game Three 83-78. That game would draw the largest crowd ever in WNBA history (22,076 came to watch). Detroit, much like the 1991 Minnesota Twins in baseball, became the first team in WNBA history to make it from last place one season to world champions the very next season.
The Shock would stumble after their championship season and play mediocre basketball in the 2004 season. The Shock would post a 17-17 record and qualify for the playoffs as the #4 seed. The Shock would take the series against the New York Liberty the full three games, but would fall in the end 2-1.
The 2005 Shock were much like the 2004 Shock, playing mediocre basketball all season, posting a 16-18 record and make the playoffs as the #4 seed. The Shock would make a quick exit, as the Connecticut Sun would sweep the Shock. 2005 would see the addition of former Piston star Rick Mahorn as an assistant coach to Laimbeer.
The 2006 Shock would come out hungry and poised for a playoff run. The Shock would have a very good regular season, posting a 23-11 record and winning the #2 seed in the playoffs. The Shock would make quick work of the Indiana Fever, sweeping them in the first round. In the Conference Finals, the Shock would be matched up against the Sun again. This time, the Shock would emerge victorious from the hard fought series, winning it 2-1. In the Finals, the Shock would face the defending champion Sacramento Monarchs. The Shock would lose game 1, getting crushed 95-71 at home. The Shock would rally in game 2 to even up the series at 1-1. Going to Sacramento, the Shock would get blown out in Game Three 89-69. With their backs against the wall, the Shock would crush the Monarchs in game 4, 72-52, setting up the crucial Game 5 in Detroit. At halftime in game 5, the Shock would find themselves down 44-36. But in the third quarter, the Shock would outscore the Monarchs 22-9, gaining a 58-53 lead going into the 4th quarter. The Shock would hold off the Monarchs in the last quarter and win the game 78-73, and the championship 3 games to 2. They became the first WNBA team to win non-consecutive championships and to win the Finals after being down 2 games to 1. They also were involved in the first WNBA Finals to go 5 games.
In 2007, the Shock sought to defend their title and repeat, something they were not able to do in 2004 after their 2003 Finals victory. The Shock would finish with a WNBA-best 24-10 record, and capture the #1 seed in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. In the first round, the Shock were heavily favored against a New York Liberty team that wasn't even supposed to be there. But in game 1, the Shock would come out flat and be blown out 73-51. In game 2, the Shock were down most of the game and at one point it seemed the Shock were done. But a late charge by the Shock and missed free throws by the Liberty gave the Shock a 76-73 victory and forced a game 3. Game 3 was a battle, as the game went into overtime. In the end, the Shock would emerge the victors 71-70 (OT). In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Shock would face the Indiana Fever, whom the Shock were bitter rivals with. Much like the Liberty series, the Shock would be blown out in Game 1 75-65. Once again, the Shock would rally to win games 2 & 3 by the scores of 77-63 and 81-65. In the 2007 WNBA Finals, the Shock would face the Phoenix Mercury, who had dominated the Western Conference all year long. The Shock would win Game One 108-100 at home. The Mercury would even the series up in game 2, blowing the Shock out 98-70. The series shifted to Phoenix for games 3 & 4. The Shock would win a rough Game Three 88-83. With a chance to win the Finals in game 4, the Shock and Mercury would battle back and forth all game. When the dust cleared, the Mercury had won 77-76, forcing a final Game 5 in Detroit. But in game 5 at home, the shock were simply dominated, as they lost the game 108-92. With the loss, the Shock lost the series and became the first team to lose the final game of the Finals at home.
Entering the 2008 season, the Shock would post a 22-12 record, best record in the East. In the first round against the Indiana Fever, Detroit would handle Indiana in 3 games. In the east finals against the New York Liberty, the Shock would face another 3 games series, but Detroit earn the series victory, moving on to the WNBA Finals against the league best San Antonio Silver Stars. Although the Silver Stars had the best record in the league in 2008, Detroit showed San Antonio what Detroit got as the Detroit Shock sweept the Silver Stars, capturing their 3rd championship in franchise history.
Season-by-season records
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|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="#0047AB" | Detroit Shock
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|1998 || 17 || 13 || .567 || ||
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|1999 || 15 || 17 || .469 || Lost First Round || Charlotte 1, Detroit 0
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|2000 || 14 || 18 || .438 || ||
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|2001 || 10 || 22 || .313 || ||
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|2002 || 9 || 23 || .281 || ||
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|2003 || 25 || 9 || .735 || Won First Round
Won Conference Finals
Won WNBA Finals || Detroit 2, Cleveland 1
Detroit 2, Connecticut 0
Detroit 2, Los Angeles 1
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|2004 || 17 || 17 || .500 || Lost First Round || New York 2, Detroit 1
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|2005 || 16 || 18 || .471 || Lost First Round || Connecticut 2, Detroit 0
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|2006 || 23 || 11 || .676 || Won First Round
Won Conference Finals
Won WNBA Finals || Detroit 2, Indiana 0
Detroit 2, Connecticut 1
Detroit 3, Sacramento 2
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|2007 || 24 || 10 || .706 || Won First Round
Won Conference Final
Lost WNBA Finals || Detroit 2, New York 1
Detroit 2, Indiana 1
Phoenix 3, Detroit 2
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|2008 || 22 || 12 || .593 || Won First Round
Won Conference Final
Won WNBA Finals || Detroit 2, Indiana 1
Detroit 2, New York 1
Detroit 3, San Antonio 0
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|Totals || 199 || 170 || .539 ||
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|Playoffs || 27 || 17 || .614 || 3 WNBA Championships||
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Stats updated October 5 2008
Players of note
Hall of Famers
Retired numbers
None
Former players
- Jennifer Azzi
- Carla Boyd
- Sandy Brondello, now an Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Silver Stars
- Edwina Brown
- Dominique Canty, now a member of the Chicago Sky
- Swin Cash, now a member of the Seattle Storm
- Anna DeForge, now a member of the Indiana Fever
- Barbara Farris, now a member of the Phoenix Mercury
- Katie Feenstra, now a member of the Atlanta Dream
- Korie Hlede
- Shannon Johnson
- Ivory Latta, now a member of the Atlanta Dream
- Astou Ndiaye-Diatta
- Claudia Neves
- Wendy Palmer
- Ruth Riley, now a member of the San Antonio Silver Stars
- Olympia Scott-Richardson, now a member of the Phoenix Mercury
- Elena Tornikidou
- Tasha Humphrey, now a member of the Washington Mystics
- Eshaya Murphy, now a member of the Washington Mystics
Current Roster
Coaches and others
Head Coaches:
Radio and Television
The Shock's flagship radio station is WDTW-AM 1310 AM.
Fox Sports Detroit is the exclusive local home of the Shock.
Some games are carried nationally by ABC, ESPN2, or NBA TV.
External links
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