Detroit Shock coach Bill Laimbeer says he wasn't expecting much from his injury-riddled team early this season, so it's safe to say their five-game winning streak has been an unexpected surprise.

The Shock look to extend their run on Friday night when they visit the Sacramento Monarchs.

With Deanna Nolan and Cheryl Ford still recovering from offseason injuries, the defending Eastern Conference champion Shock (6-1) expected to struggle before reclaiming their form from last season.

Instead, they lead the league in victories, and only 5-0 Minnesota has a better winning percentage.

"I thought we might start 2-10, given our injuries and lack of practice time, so I'm very happy to be 6-1," Laimbeer said. "We've still got a lot to learn about utilizing our bench, but we've been better than I expected."

Nolan had 14 points and Ford added eight and 11 rebounds in a 77-67 win over Seattle on Wednesday night. Both players have played all season through lingering injuries - Nolan sprained her ankle playing in Russia during the offseason, and Ford is still recovering from last September's knee surgery.

"You have to give (Nolan) and Cheryl all the credit in the world for playing when they are thing banged up," All-Star guard Katie Smith said. "That's why it is a pleasant surprise to be 6-1."

Though she credited her injured teammates, Smith scored 33 points on Wednesday, her 34th birthday. It was her highest point total since joining the Shock in 2005 after six-plus seasons with Minnesota.

Smith totaled 13 points on 3-for-22 shooting from the field in the first three games of Detroit's run, but has scored 52 on 17-for-39 shooting in the last two.

She hopes to continue her offensive resurgence in Detroit's first meeting of the year with Sacramento (2-3). She averaged 14.5 points per game but shot 33.3 percent as the Shock and Monarchs split their two-game season series in 2007.

Detroit's 85-75 road loss to Sacramento on June 23 was its third straight at Arco Arena, where the Monarchs have won both of their home games this year and eight of 10 dating to last season's playoffs.

Laura Harper scored all 11 of her points in the second half and the Monarchs never trailed in their 73-66 home win over Houston last Friday.

"The things she does naturally we need, like toughness, rebounding and banging," Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek said of the 6-foot-5, 196-pound rookie forward out of Maryland. "She doesn't back down against anyone."