2008 Detroit Shock season
The 2008 WNBA season was the 11th for the Detroit Shock, an American women's professional basketball team. The Shock attempted to return to the WNBA Finals for the third consecutive year. They won the WNBA Finals for the third time in franchise history. During the finals, Katie Smith averaged a team high 21.7 points per game to be named WNBA Finals MVP.[1] Similar to Kevin Garnett with the 2008 Boston Celtics, Taj McWilliams-Franklin won her first championship after 10 years in the league.[2]
Offseason
The following player was lost in the Atlanta Dream expansion draft:
[3]
WNBA Draft
Transactions
- September 4: The Shock signed Ashley Shields.
- August 19: The Shock signed Ashley Shields to a seven-day contract.
- August 12: The Shock traded Tasha Humphrey, Eshaya Murphy and a second-round pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft to the Washington Mystics for Taj McWilliams-Franklin.
- August 8: The Shock waived Stacey Lovelace.
- July 26: The Shock signed Kelly Schumacher.
- July 25: The Shock waived Nancy Lieberman.
- July 24: The Shock signed Nancy Lieberman to a seven-day contract.
- July 11: The Shock signed Stacey Lovelace.
- June 27: The Shock waived Chrissy Givens.
- June 22: The Shock traded LaToya Thomas to the Minnesota Lynx for Eshaya Murphy.
- June 18: The Shock waived Wanisha Smith and signed Chrissy Givens.
- May 15: The Shock waived Michelle Campbell and Wanisha Smith.
- May 8: The Shock signed Wanisha Smith to a training camp contract.
- May 7: The Shock signed free agent Sheri Sam.
- May 5: The Shock waived Valeriya Berezhynska, Natasha Lacy and Tyresa Smith.
- April 26: The Shock waived Chakhia Cole, Fantasia Goodwin and Samantha Mahoney.
- April 18: The Shock waived Nina Norman.
- April 17: The Shock signed Samantha Mahoney to a training camp contract.
- April 16: The Shock signed Chakhia Cole to a training camp contract.
- March 31: The Shock signed Elaine Powell to a training camp contract.
- March 10: The Shock re-signed free agents Cheryl Ford, Deanna Nolan and Katie Smith.
- March 4: The Shock signed Tyresa Smith and Michelle Campbell to training camp contracts.
- February 29: The Shock signed Nina Norman to a training camp contract.
- February 28: The Shock re-signed free agent Plenette Pierson and signed Chrissy Givens to a training camp contract.
- February 19: The Shock traded Swin Cash to the Seattle Storm in exchange for the 4th pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft.
- February 6: The Shock traded Ivory Latta to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for LaToya Thomas and the 18th pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft.
[4]
Trades
Free agents
Season Highlights
The Shock season opener resulted in a record-breaking debut for rookie guard Alexis Hornbuckle. Hornbuckle set a Shock record with seven steals to help the Shock beat the Houston Comets on May 17. Deanna Nolan scored a franchise-record 44 points (28 in the fourth quarter and overtime) in a 98-93 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on June 20.
Malice at the Palace
Nancy Lieberman
In July, the Detroit Shock signed Nancy Lieberman to a 7-day contract. The 50-year-old Lieberman broke her own record for being the oldest player in the WNBA.[5] Lieberman, a Hall of Famer since 1999, was 39 years old when she played with Phoenix during the league's first year in 1997.
The 50-year-old Lieberman played nine minutes and had two assists.[6] One of the assists included a no-look pass in the closing minutes of the Detroit Shock's 79-61 loss to the Houston Comets on July 24.
Lieberman made a one-time only appearance in the Shock's first game due to a bench-clearing melee with the Los Angeles Sparks on July 22. Five Shock players were suspended and Cheryl Ford suffered a season-ending injury, prompting coach Bill Laimbeer to offer Lieberman a seven-day contract.
Roster
Detroit Shock roster |
Players | Coaches |
Pos. | # | Nat. | Name | Height | Weight | DOB | From |
6.0 !C |
45 |
USA ! |
Braxton, Kara |
7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
210 lb (95 kg) |
|
Georgia |
4.5 !PF |
35 |
USA ! |
Ford, Cheryl |
7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
198 lb (90 kg) |
|
Louisiana Tech |
2.0 !SG |
22 |
USA ! |
Hornbuckle, Alexis |
7000180340000000000♠5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
155 lb (70 kg) |
|
Tennessee |
4.5 !PF |
44 |
USA ! |
McWilliams-Franklin, Taj |
7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
184 lb (83 kg) |
|
St. Edward's University |
2.0 !SG |
14 |
USA ! |
Nolan, Deanna (C) |
7000180340000000000♠5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
144 lb (65 kg) |
|
Georgia |
3.0 !SF |
23 |
USA ! |
Pierson, Plenette |
7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
181 lb (82 kg) |
|
Texas Tech |
1.0 !PG |
5 |
USA ! |
Powell, Elaine |
7000172720000000000♠5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
150 lb (68 kg) |
|
LSU |
2.5 !G/F |
55 |
USA ! |
Sam, Sheri |
7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
160 lb (73 kg) |
|
Vanderbilt |
6.0 !C |
24 |
USA ! |
Sanni, Olayinka |
7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
205 lb (93 kg) |
|
West Virginia |
6.0 !C |
11 |
USA ! |
Schumacher, Kelly |
7000195580000000000♠6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
183 lb (83 kg) |
|
Connecticut |
2.0 !SG |
3 |
USA ! |
Shields, Ashley |
7000177800000000000♠5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
155 lb (70 kg) |
|
Southwest Tennessee Community College |
2.5 !G/F |
30 |
USA ! |
Smith, Katie (C) |
7000180340000000000♠5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
174 lb (79 kg) |
|
Ohio State |
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coaches
- Athletic trainer
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (FA) Free agent
- (IN) Inactive
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
|
Season standings
Schedule
Regular season
2008 Game Log: Regular Season |
|
June
Game |
Date |
Opponent |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location/Attendance |
Record |
7 |
June 4 |
Seattle |
77-67 |
Smith (33) |
Ford (11) |
Nolan (8) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 8,108 |
6-1 |
8 |
June 6 |
@ Sacramento |
84-70 |
Smith (30) |
Braxton, Ford, Nolan (6) |
Nolan (9) |
ARCO Arena 6,663 |
7-1 |
9 |
June 7 |
@ Seattle |
67-75 |
Smith (18) |
Pierson (10) |
Hornbuckle, Pierson (3) |
KeyArena 7,105 |
7-2 |
10 |
June 11 |
@ Los Angeles |
73-80 |
Smith (16) |
Pierson, Smith (7) |
Smith (4) |
STAPLES Center 8,520 |
7-3 |
11 |
June 14 |
@ Phoenix |
89-79 |
Humphrey (28) |
Hornbuckle (15) |
Nolan (8) |
US Airways Center 7,696 |
8-3 |
12 |
June 20 |
Minnesota |
98-93 (OT) |
Nolan (44) |
Ford (14) |
Pierson (4) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 8,916 |
9-3 |
13 |
June 22 |
@ Atlanta |
97-76 |
Ford (20) |
Ford (12) |
Nolan (7) |
Philips Arena 7,865 |
10-3 |
14 |
June 24 |
@ Connecticut |
68-85 |
Nolan (17) |
Ford (11) |
Smith (4) |
Mohegan Sun Arena 7,501 |
10-4 |
15 |
June 26 |
Connecticut |
70-61 |
Nolan (13) |
Ford (9) |
Smith (4) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 8,636 |
11-4 |
16 |
June 28 |
@ Chicago |
59-76 |
Murphy (13) |
Ford (8) |
Hornbuckle, Sam (4) |
UIC Pavilion 3,407 |
11-5 |
17 |
June 29 |
Atlanta |
100-92 |
Braxton (26) |
Braxton (9) |
Nolan (11) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 8,798 |
12-5 |
|
July
Game |
Date |
Opponent |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location/Attendance |
Record |
18 |
July 1 |
@ San Antonio |
72-79 (OT) |
Smith (17) |
Ford, Sam (8) |
Smith (9) |
AT&T Center 5,656 |
12-6 |
19 |
July 8 |
Connecticut |
88-82 |
Pierson (23) |
Braxton (8) |
Nolan (8) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 7,623 |
13-6 |
20 |
July 11 |
Washington |
79-66 |
Smith (23) |
Braxton, Ford (7) |
Nolan (4) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 8,596 |
14-6 |
21 |
July 12 |
@ New York |
64-74 |
Smith, Pierson (13) |
Ford (12) |
Nolan (4) |
Madison Square Garden 8,661 |
14-7 |
22 |
July 16 |
Chicago |
66-63 |
Ford (14) |
Pierson (8) |
Nolan, Smith (4) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 15,210 |
15-7 |
23 |
July 18 |
@ Washington |
99-62 |
Nolan (26) |
Braxton, Hornbuckle (6) |
Sam (8) |
Verizon Center 6,834 |
16-7 |
24 |
July 20 |
Sacramento |
85-88 |
Nolan (27) |
Ford (10) |
Smith (6) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 9,138 |
16-8 |
25 |
July 22 |
Los Angeles |
81-84 |
Smith (20) |
Ford (9) |
Hornbuckle, Smith (5) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 12,930 |
16-9 |
26 |
July 24 |
@ Houston |
61-79 |
Nolan (23) |
Nolan, Sam (9) |
Nolan (4) |
Reliant Arena 7,261 |
16-10 |
27 |
July 27 |
San Antonio |
64-76 |
Nolan (25) |
Braxton (9) |
Smith (6) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 9,537 |
16-11 |
|
|
September
Game |
Date |
Opponent |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location/Attendance |
Record |
30 |
September 5 |
Indiana |
90-68 |
Pierson (20) |
Pierson (6) |
McWilliams-Franklin, Pierson (4) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 9,287 |
18-12 |
31 |
September 6 |
@ Washington |
84-69 |
McWilliams-Franklin (21) |
Nolan (10) |
Smith (8) |
Verizon Center 9,976 |
19-12 |
32 |
September 9 |
Phoenix |
89-78 |
Nolan (18) |
Braxton, Hornbuckle, McWilliams-Franklin (8) |
Pierson, Smith (5) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 7,495 |
20-12 |
33 |
September 11 |
Washington |
78-66 |
Nolan (17) |
McWilliams-Franklin (8) |
Smith (6) |
Palace of Auburn Hills 8,145 |
21-12 |
34 |
September 14 |
@ New York |
61-59 |
Nolan, Pierson (11) |
Hornbuckle, Nolan (7) |
Powell (4) |
Madison Square Garden 10,042 |
22-12 |
|
Postseason
2008 Game Log: Postseason |
Eastern Conference Semifinals
|
Eastern Conference Finals
|
|
Player stats
Regular season
Player |
GP |
GS |
MPG |
FG% |
3P% |
FT% |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
BPG |
PPG |
Deanna Nolan !Deanna Nolan |
34 | 34 | 33.6 | .465 | .374 | .863 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 15.8 |
Katie Smith !Katie Smith |
34 | 34 | 33.9 | .383 | .360 | .887 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 14.7 |
Plenette Pierson !Plenette Pierson |
28 | 0 | 23.2 | .457 | .000 | .752 | 4.9 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 11.9 |
Taj McWilliams-Franklin !Taj McWilliams-Franklin |
7 | 7 | 26.2 | .422 | 1.000 | .909 | 6.7 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 10.7 |
Cheryl Ford !Cheryl Ford |
24 | 24 | 26.5 | .481 | .000 | .560 | 8.7 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 10.1 |
Kara Braxton !Kara Braxton |
33 | 10 | 17.9 | .415 | .000 | .743 | 5.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 8.9 |
Tasha Humphrey !Tasha Humphrey |
22 | 16 | 13.5 | .500 | .385 | .955 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 7.3 |
Alexis Hornbuckle !Alexis Hornbuckle |
34 | 0 | 22.0 | .354 | .356 | .636 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 5.4 |
Elaine Powell !Elaine Powell |
16 | 16 | 19.6 | .490 | .500 | .750 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 3.6 |
Olayinka Sanni !Olayinka Sanni |
31 | 9 | 10.5 | .500 | .000 | .649 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 3.4 |
Ashley Shields !Ashley Shields |
7 | 0 | 6.3 | .364 | .333 | .750 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3.1 |
Sheri Sam !Sheri Sam |
32 | 15 | 14.9 | .309 | .286 | .692 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 2.9 |
Eshaya Murphy !Eshaya Murphy |
13 | 3 | 9.4 | .300 | .263 | .667 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 2.5 |
Kelly Schumacher !Kelly Schumacher |
7 | 0 | 12.7 | .375 | .000 | 1.000 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2.0 |
Stacey Lovelace !Stacey Lovelace |
7 | 2 | 6.3 | .286 | .400 | .667 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.4 |
LaToya Thomas !LaToya Thomas |
7 | 0 | 5.7 | .267 | .000 | .000 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 |
Chrissy Givens !Chrissy Givens |
3 | 0 | 3.3 | .000 | .000 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
Wanisha Smith !Wanisha Smith |
1 | 0 | 0.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Nancy Lieberman !Nancy Lieberman |
1 | 0 | 9.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Shock Regular Season Stats
Postseason
Player |
GP |
GS |
MPG |
FG% |
3P% |
FT% |
RPG |
APG |
SPG |
BPG |
PPG |
Deanna Nolan !Deanna Nolan |
9 | 9 | 38.8 | .359 | .341 | .939 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 17.6 |
Katie Smith !Katie Smith |
9 | 9 | 34.3 | .410 | .354 | .758 | 4.0 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 15.3 |
Taj McWilliams-Franklin !Taj McWilliams-Franklin |
9 | 9 | 32.6 | .490 | .500 | .864 | 7.0 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 12.9 |
Kara Braxton !Kara Braxton |
9 | 9 | 20.0 | .500 | .000 | .650 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 8.6 |
Plenette Pierson !Plenette Pierson |
6 | 0 | 17.8 | .474 | .000 | .846 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 7.8 |
Alexis Hornbuckle !Alexis Hornbuckle |
9 | 0 | 24.4 | .429 | .375 | .750 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 6.3 |
Elaine Powell !Elaine Powell |
9 | 9 | 19.0 | .588 | .000 | .818 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 3.2 |
Olayinka Sanni !Olayinka Sanni |
9 | 0 | 7.3 | .438 | .000 | .500 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
Kelly Schumacher !Kelly Schumacher |
8 | 0 | 11.9 | .438 | .000 | .000 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 1.8 |
Sheri Sam !Sheri Sam |
6 | 0 | 5.0 | .286 | .000 | 1.000 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1.0 |
Ashley Shields !Ashley Shields |
3 | 0 | 1.3 | .200 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 |
Detroit Shock Playoff Stats
Awards and honors
- Katie Smith, WNBA Player of the Week (June 2–8)
- Deanna Nolan, WNBA Player of the Week (June 16–22 and July 14–20)
- Deanna Nolan, All-WNBA Defensive Second Team
- Katie Smith, All-WNBA Defensive Second Team
- Deanna Nolan, All-WNBA Second Team
- Katie Smith, WNBA Finals MVP
References
External links
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Playoff Appearances | |
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