The Detroit Shock began the 2007 season as WNBA champions. They ended it as the runner-up. Along the way, the Shock players enjoyed a roller-coaster summer, full of individual and collective accomplishments. But they also had their share of setbacks and struggles.

Season In Review | 2007 Schedule | 2007 Roster | Photo Gallery

With 14 seconds remaining in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, Katie Smith hit the jumper that effectively gave the Detroit Shock their second WNBA title in four seasons. It was a remarkable end to a remarkable season that finally saw the Shock live up to the potential that media pundits, fans and even Head Coach Bill Laimbeer had been trumpeting for the past three years.

Season In Review | 2006 Schedule | 2006 Roster | Photo Gallery

Heading into the 2005 season, the jury was out on when All-Star forward Swin Cash would return to the Detroit lineup. The team was hopeful that she would be ready for the first game of the regular season, but she wound up missing the first 12 games of the year, and was never at 100 percent the entire summer. Shock Head Coach Bill Laimbeer made two trades during the season to bolster the Shock rotation, acquiring Plenette Pierson from the Phoenix Mercury on June 29, and then later trading for Katie Smith, one of the league's all-time greatest scoring machines.

Season In Review | 2005 Schedule | 2005 Roster | Photo Gallery

It is difficult to say when the thrill of a championship season gives way to the pressures of a repeat. At the time, the 2004 Detroit Shock seemed well-equipped to face the challenge, however, as starters Swin Cash, Cheryl Ford, Deanna Nolan and Ruth Riley had all yet to reach their 25th birthdays. With starting point guard Elaine Powell tipping the age scales at 28-years old, WNBA pundits and fans alike thought that the Shock seemed primed for a long run of championship caliber basketball.

SHOCK ALL-TIME Top-ten Moments Pre-season Records Double-Doubles Buzzer Beaters Draft History Shock Firsts Trade History

Season In Review | 2004 Schedule | 2004 Roster | Photo Gallery

Sports fans tend to enter a season with a renewed sense of optimism no matter how poor the previous years turned out. It might be a new free agent acquisition, a draft pick or a coaching change, but hope springs eternal even for the most moribund of franchises. In 2003, the stars aligned in Detroit allowing Shock fans to carry around optimism in spades. The Shock completed their remarkable worst-to-first turnaround with their first WNBA Championship.

Season In Review | 2003 Schedule | 2003 Roster | Photo Gallery

With decreasing win totals in each of the team’s first four seasons, many observers thought that 2002 would be a make or break year for the Detroit Shock. Only three players remained from the Shock’s 1999 playoff team and two of the team’s point guards from a year ago were gone. The Shock were able to add a significant piece of their future when they drafted Swin Cash in the first round (No. 2 overall) of the 2002 WNBA Draft.

Season In Review | 2002 Schedule | 2002 Roster | Photo Gallery

It didn’t take long for Detroit to start making over its franchise following 2000’s 14-18 record as assistant coach Greg Williams was promoted to head coach and director of player personnel on September 20. Outside of Wendy Palmer, the roster he inherited was lacking in star power. Long gone were the likes of Korie Hlede and Jennifer Azzi whom fans had drawn attached to. However there were some interesting pieces still left on the board especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Season In Review | 2001 Schedule | 2001 Roster

The Shock entered the 1999-2000 offseason with its first ever playoff appearance in its back pocket, and a solid core of players to build around in Wendy Palmer, Sandy Brondello and Jennifer Azzi. Unfortunately two of those three players were out of the Motor City prior to the start of training camp. Even more alarming – only five players who were on the roster for Detroit’s 1999 playoff loss to the Charlotte Sting were in training camp in 2000.

Season In Review | 2000 Schedule | 2000 Roster | Photo Gallery

Following on the heels of a 17-13 inaugural campaign, Shock fans could be excused if they were a little excited during the offseason, especially after the ABL ceased operation over the winter holidays. With just one professional women’s basketball league left in the US, the talent level in the WNBA would increase exponentially that year as 38 ABL players in all were allowed to join the league in 1999. A tweak here or there, and the Shock could move into the Eastern Conference elite.

Season In Review | 1999 Schedule | 1999 Roster | Photo Gallery

Although the Detroit Shock entered its inaugural WNBA season with the “expansion” tag clinging firmly to its back, and despite the fact they got off to a rocky 0-4 start, by season’s end they were one of the biggest stories in the league and only missed out on a postseason berth by just one game in the standings.

Season In Review | 1998 Schedule | 1998 Roster | Photo Gallery