Jason Archer has been a longtime Pistons fan, so much so that he renovated his nine-year-old daughter’s bedroom to look like the Pistons court. It didn’t take long for Jason to find the next thing that would help his daughter, Grace, follow his sports obsession.

“When she took to sports I love the fact that we have the WNBA, so as a girl growing into a young woman she has role models she can look up to,” Jason said. “Examples that she can say, ‘I want to be like that.’ So we said we wanted to start going to WNBA games.”

The first game the Archers, from Spring Arbor, attended was the “Dads & Daughters” night May 30 when the Shock hosted the Washington Mystics. And while most of us will celebrate Father’s Day on June 17, Jason thought May 30 would work just as well - so he invited his own father, Dave, who was visiting from out of town and never been to The Palace.

“This was perfect because its Dad and Daughter night,” Jason said, before Grace interjected.

“It’s dad, daughter and grandpa night.”

The Dads & Daughter package included game tickets, exclusive access to the Shock practice facility and a chance to meet the Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn. They spent about what it would cost for a trip to the movies (popcorn and Coke included). “We like to hang out together,” Jason said. “We didn’t expect how cool this would be.”

Before the game the dad and daughter pair competed in the dribble, pass and shoot competition at the Shock practice facility. Grace and Jason took second place, winning a WNBA backpack and Bill Laimbeer bobblehead doll. Grace had a high-five and a hug for Dad after the big win. “Being by yourself is not very fun,” Grace said. “But when you’re with a team it’s fun.”

At The Palace, the Archers sat courtside during pre-game and watched the team warm-up with Mahorn. From their courtside seats, the Archers watched the Shock win their third game of the year, but the best moment came in the third quarter, when a dancing Grace got on PalaceVision. “It’s been a great experience for our family and it’s been really fun to watch the girls play,” Jason said.

Grace had a feeling before they even arrived at The Palace that this Dads & Daughters day would be one to remember. “As we were coming in, she said, as any third grader would, ‘man, this is going to make a great show-and-tell tomorrow,’” Jason said.

But if Grace could bring anything to class with her the next day, it wouldn’t have been her ticket stub, her new backpack or the Laimbeer bobblehead. As she said, “just hanging out with my men” is a lot to brag about.

The final “Dads & Daughters” Night is Wed., June 27, against the Connecticut Sun. “Dads & Daughters” tickets are $15 apiece, and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling The Palace box office at 248.377.0100.