Top Ten Moments in Shock HERstory
The WNBA is celebrating its 10th Anniversary, so we asked Shock players what their top ten moments were.
In no particular order, the top ten moments as chosen by the players are listed below.
Winning the 2003 WNBA Championship
In 2003, the Shock completed their remarkable worst-to-first turnaround with their first WNBA Championship. Five players remain on the roster from the 2003 team – Swin Cash, Cheryl Ford, Kedra Holland-Corn, Deanna Nolan, and Ruth Riley – and all are committed to bringing the championship back to the “D”.
The 2005 WNBA All-Star game
In a record-setting All-star game that saw both teams combine for 221 points and another Western All-star win, it was the play above the rim that had everyone talking. Lisa Leslie made the first dunk by a woman in an All-Star game and our very own Deanna Nolan almost added two of her own dunks to this wild shooting game. The Detroit Shock sent a franchise-record four players to the game.
Getting Drafted by the Shock
Draft day is an exciting day for everyone involved, as the Shock has six players on their current roster that have been drafted – center Zane Teilane (2006), forward Kara Braxton (2005), forward Cheryl Ford (2003), forward Swin Cash (2002), guard Deanna Nolan (2001) and center Ruth Riley (2001).
The 2004 WNBA vs, USA Basketball Game at Radio City
In a unique game that pitted WNBA All-stars vs. Team USA All-stars, the Shock sent four players to compete on the stage of the Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Cheryl Ford and Deanna Nolan competed for the WNBA All-Stars as Swin Cash and Ruth Riley competed for Team USA.
Playing In Their First Playoff Game
For most of these Shock superstars their first playoff game occurred Friday August 29th, 2003 against the Cleveland Rockers. No matter when it happened, most said that that first game was one of the most exciting games they’ve played in.
Tweety’s Triple-Double
The 2005 season started off with a bang for Deanna Nolan who recorded the fourth triple-double in WNBA history. Nolan accumulated 11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. She also set the franchise record for assists in a single game. Nolan is the shortest of the four to record a triple-double.
Getting Traded to Detroit
While most of the Shock players were home grown, some were acquired through various trades put together by Coach Bill Laimbeer. Did you know that Jacqueline Batteast, Plenette Pierson, Angelina Williams and Katie Smith were all acquired via trade within the last year?
Playing In Their First WNBA Game
The dream is to step out on that floor. Not just as a basketball player, but as a professional basketball player. This moment was what girls hoped and dreamed for, coming out in their first professional basketball game. Even the big girls still have fond memories of their first time out.
Setting the WNBA Attendance Record
Perhaps you were a part of this moment as 22,076 Shock fans packed the Palace of Auburn Hills to watch the Shock win the 2003 WNBA Championship. As it has been stated, Detroit fans are the best in the business.
The Bad Boys are Back
The Shock coaching staff was filled with the unlikely, at the time, hiring of Head Coach Bill Laimbeer and Assistant Coach Rick Mahorn. These two brought NBA experience and cache with them to Detroit and established an attitude of winning.
