- 1998
- 2002
- 2003
- 2006
- 2008
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Detroit Shock Team Creation
The Shock was one of the first WNBA expansion teams and began to play in 1998. The Detroit Shock quickly brought in a blend of rookies and veterans. The Shock’s first coach was Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman. The Shock would start out their inaugural season 0-4 but would put together an amazing expansion season, and finish 17-13, missing out ... -
Hiring of Bill Laimbeer
The 2002 Shock started the season 0-10, at which point Williams was fired and replaced by former Detroit Pistons legend Bill Laimbeer. The team finished the season 9-23, but Laimbeer’s ideas influenced the team’s front office, who agreed with the new coach’s ideas; including bringing over some new players that he felt were necessary for the Shock to become a contender. -
WNBA Championship 2003
After massive changes to the roster, Laimbeer predicted before the 2003 season that the Shock would be league champions, and his prediction would unbelievably come true. The Shock would tear up the East in the regular season, posting a 25-9 record and winning the #1 seed by 7 games. In the playoffs, the Shock would defeat the Cleveland Rockers 2-1 ... -
WNBA Championship 2006
The 2006 Shock came out hungry and poised for a playoff run. The Shock performed well during the regular season, posting a 23-11 record and winning the #2 seed in the playoffs. The Shock went on to make quick work of the Indiana Fever, sweeping them in the first round. In the Conference Finals, the Shock would be matched up against ... -
Detroit Shock 2008 WNBA Champs
Entering the 2008 postseason, the Shock posted a 22-12 regular-season record, the best record in the East. In the first round against the Indiana Fever, Detroit handled Indiana in 3 games. Due to the scheduling of other events at the Palace, the Shock had to play their home playoff games in the conference and league finals at Eastern Michigan University’s ...
History of the Shock
The Detroit Shock is one of the most successful teams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Founded in 1998, they are one of the original eight franchises that formed when the WNBA was created. The team has enjoyed great success over its history, winning three WNBA championships and appearing in five Finals series.
In 2003, under head coach Bill Laimbeer and stars like Cheryl Ford and Deanna Nolan leading them on the court, they won their first championship title after defeating Los Angeles Sparks 3-2. In 2006 they repeated this feat by beating LA to become back-to-back champions for a second time, an accomplishment only matched by two other teams. Their third title came four years later when they beat San Antonio Silver Stars to become just one of six franchises who have won multiple championships since 2000.
Throughout its history, Detroit Shock has been known for having solid rosters filled with talent from around the world - including players from countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, and Russia. This has helped them build a loyal fan base that continues to support them today despite not making it into playoffs since the 2015 season ended. With new ownership taking charge recently, there is hope among fans that the team can once again reach the heights it achieved during the early days of the franchise’s existence.
Shock Products
Established
1998
City
Detroit – Tulsa – Dallas
League History
1998 – Present / Women’s National Basketball Association
Team History
2016 – Present / Dallas Wings
2010 – 2015 / Tulsa Shock
1998 – 2009 / Detroit Shock
Nickname
Shock – The Detroit Shock is a professional women’s basketball team in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was founded in 1998 and has been a part of the WNBA since its inception. As with many teams, they have an interesting story behind their nickname.
Regarding sports nicknames, most people think of tough animals like tigers or lions, but not so much shocks! But believe it or not, this unique name originates from Detroit's automotive history and culture. When you look at the logo for the Detroit Shock, you can see two crossed pistons symbolic of both cars and engines – perfect for representing Motor City!
The idea behind choosing "Shock" as their nickname came about because back then, there were several popular auto models produced by General Motors, such as Pontiac Grand Am “GTO” and Buick Regal “GSX." These cars all had "shock absorbers," which helped them perform better on tight turns while keeping passengers comfortable during rides. This same concept applies to basketball: having sound shock absorbers helps players stay balanced on quick moves around court opponents while still being able to shoot accurately with comfortability - just what every significant player needs!
In addition to honoring Detroit's rich automotive heritage through their name choice, the owners wanted something strong yet feminine enough that would represent female athletes playing hard-nosed competitive sports; thus making 'Shock' an ideal fit for these talented ladies who play each game like they're going up against Goliath himself!. It also pays homage to how powerful women can be even if they don't always get credit due to them - just like those fantastic car parts that help make vehicles run smoother without getting any recognition themselves!
So next time you hear someone talking about TheDetroit Shock, remember where this mighty moniker comes from—it honors our city's proud auto industry past and today's fierce female athletes who never fail us when we need them most.
Championship
WNBA Championships 0
Arena
2016 – Present / College Park Center
*Tulsa*
2010 – 2015 / BOK Center
*Detroit*
1998 – 2009 / The Palace of Auburn Hills
Owner
2016 – Present / Bill Cameron, Chris Christian and Mark Yancey
2010 – 2015 / Tulsa Pro Hoops LLC
1998–2009 / William Davidson
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history
