Sparks-Shock brawl
Encyclopedia
The Sparks-Shock brawl was an altercation that occurred in a Women's National Basketball Association
game between the Detroit Shock
and Los Angeles Sparks
on July 21, 2008 at The Palace of Auburn Hills
in Auburn Hills
, Michigan
. "It was," wrote Ray Ratto in the Wall Street Journal, "in the classic sense, one of those things that occasionally happens when highly competitive people want the same thing and one can’t have it." The Shock trailed 42-21 in the second quarter but pulled within 76-75 in the final 90 seconds. Detroit rookie Alexis Hornbuckle
then stole the ball from Candace Parker
, her former college teammate at Tennessee
, but Deanna Nolan
lost control while going in for what would have been a go-ahead layup.
after a free throw
attempt when Plenette Pierson
made a hard block out on Candace Parker; the two players became entangled and fell. As Parker was down, Pierson stormed over to Parker and aggressively walked over the top of her; in response, Parker pulled Pierson to the court. Parker threw a punch at Pierson before being tackled by Deanna Nolan
as players and coaches from both teams joined in. Coach Rick Mahorn
came off the bench as a peacemaker, but the 6-10, 300-plus pounder incited more violence when he inadvertently knocked Los Angeles forward Lisa Leslie
to the floor. Leslie's teammate, DeLisha Milton-Jones
, punched a stunned Mahorn in the shoulder. Sparks players Murriel Page
and Shannon Bobbitt
also hit Mahorn. Pierson, Parker, Milton-Jones, and Mahorn were all ejected from the game. The altercation also resulted in a season-ending ACL
injury to Shock player Cheryl Ford
, who was trying to restrain her teammate.
This was the second major basketball fight to occur at The Palace in four years, the other being the Pacers–Pistons brawl in 2004.
According to WNBA rules:
Because they were ejected after the altercation, Parker, Milton-Jones, Mahorn, and Pierson all started serving their suspensions the immediate next game. Also according to WNBA rules, each team must have at least eight active members to play a game. Therefore, suspensions were staggered by alphabetical order of last name. To have eight on the Sparks' roster, Page was allowed to play in the immediate next game and served her suspension starting with the second game after the altercation. Because she was not active, Powell served her suspension when she was taken off the inactive list.
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
game between the Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
and Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
on July 21, 2008 at The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Palace of Auburn Hills
The Palace of Auburn Hills, often referred to simply as The Palace, is a sports and entertainment venue in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb on the northern outskirts of Detroit, Michigan, United States. Opened in 1988, it is the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association...
in Auburn Hills
Auburn Hills, Michigan
Auburn Hills is a city in Metro Detroit, Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 21,412 at the 2010 census. The city was formed in 1983 when Pontiac Township became the City of Auburn Hills.-Economy:...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. "It was," wrote Ray Ratto in the Wall Street Journal, "in the classic sense, one of those things that occasionally happens when highly competitive people want the same thing and one can’t have it." The Shock trailed 42-21 in the second quarter but pulled within 76-75 in the final 90 seconds. Detroit rookie Alexis Hornbuckle
Alexis Hornbuckle
Alexis Kay'ree Hornbuckle is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA.-High school years:...
then stole the ball from Candace Parker
Candace Parker
Candace Nicole Parker is an All-American basketball player for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks and is also the younger sister of NBA player Anthony Parker. She was drafted to the team from Tennessee in 2008...
, her former college teammate at Tennessee
Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represents the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee in NCAA women's basketball competition...
, but Deanna Nolan
Deanna Nolan
Deanna "Tweety" Nicole Nolan is an American professional basketball player for the WNBA. Her primary position is shooting guard, but occasionally plays the point guard position...
lost control while going in for what would have been a go-ahead layup.
Altercation
With 4.5 seconds before the game was officially over, the fighting began on the courtBasketball court
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor with tiles at either end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and highly polished...
after a free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
attempt when Plenette Pierson
Plenette Pierson
Plenette Pierson is a professional WNBA player for the New York Liberty. In the 2007 season, Pierson won the first ever Sixth Woman of the Year Award given in the WNBA.-College:...
made a hard block out on Candace Parker; the two players became entangled and fell. As Parker was down, Pierson stormed over to Parker and aggressively walked over the top of her; in response, Parker pulled Pierson to the court. Parker threw a punch at Pierson before being tackled by Deanna Nolan
Deanna Nolan
Deanna "Tweety" Nicole Nolan is an American professional basketball player for the WNBA. Her primary position is shooting guard, but occasionally plays the point guard position...
as players and coaches from both teams joined in. Coach Rick Mahorn
Rick Mahorn
Derrick Allen Mahorn is a retired American NBA basketball player who, at 6'10", played power forward and center...
came off the bench as a peacemaker, but the 6-10, 300-plus pounder incited more violence when he inadvertently knocked Los Angeles forward Lisa Leslie
Lisa Leslie
Lisa Deshaun Leslie-Lockwood is a former American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA. She is a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medal winner...
to the floor. Leslie's teammate, DeLisha Milton-Jones
DeLisha Milton-Jones
DeLisha Milton-Jones is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association . Milton-Jones played college basketball for the University of Florida. In her twelve-season WNBA career, she has played for the Washington Mystics and Los...
, punched a stunned Mahorn in the shoulder. Sparks players Murriel Page
Murriel Page
LaMurriel "Murriel" Page is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a forward and center in the Women's National Basketball Association for eleven seasons. Page played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was drafted in the first round of the 1998...
and Shannon Bobbitt
Shannon Bobbitt
Shannon Denise Bobbitt is an American professional basketball player for the WNBA's Indiana Fever. One of eight children and a native of the Bronx, New York Bobbitt honed her basketball skills on the neighborhood project courts of Harlem...
also hit Mahorn. Pierson, Parker, Milton-Jones, and Mahorn were all ejected from the game. The altercation also resulted in a season-ending ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
injury to Shock player Cheryl Ford
Cheryl Ford
Cheryl Ford is a professional basketball player in the WNBA.-Personal information:Cheryl Ford is the daughter of Bonita Ford and former NBA player Karl Malone.-High school:...
, who was trying to restrain her teammate.
This was the second major basketball fight to occur at The Palace in four years, the other being the Pacers–Pistons brawl in 2004.
Suspensions
| Player | Suspension Length | Reason |
| Plenette Pierson Plenette Pierson Plenette Pierson is a professional WNBA player for the New York Liberty. In the 2007 season, Pierson won the first ever Sixth Woman of the Year Award given in the WNBA.-College:... , Shock |
4 games | Initiated altercation |
| Rick Mahorn Rick Mahorn Derrick Allen Mahorn is a retired American NBA basketball player who, at 6'10", played power forward and center... , Asst. Coach - Shock |
2 games | Escalated altercation |
| Shannon Bobbitt Shannon Bobbitt Shannon Denise Bobbitt is an American professional basketball player for the WNBA's Indiana Fever. One of eight children and a native of the Bronx, New York Bobbitt honed her basketball skills on the neighborhood project courts of Harlem... , Sparks |
2 games | Left the bench, threw a punch |
| Murriel Page Murriel Page LaMurriel "Murriel" Page is a former American college and professional basketball player who was a forward and center in the Women's National Basketball Association for eleven seasons. Page played college basketball for the University of Florida, and was drafted in the first round of the 1998... , Sparks |
2 games | Left the bench, threw a punch |
| Candace Parker Candace Parker Candace Nicole Parker is an All-American basketball player for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks and is also the younger sister of NBA player Anthony Parker. She was drafted to the team from Tennessee in 2008... , Sparks |
1 game | Threw a punch |
| DeLisha Milton-Jones DeLisha Milton-Jones DeLisha Milton-Jones is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association . Milton-Jones played college basketball for the University of Florida. In her twelve-season WNBA career, she has played for the Washington Mystics and Los... , Sparks |
1 game | Threw a punch |
| Lisa Leslie Lisa Leslie Lisa Deshaun Leslie-Lockwood is a former American professional women's basketball player in the WNBA. She is a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medal winner... , Sparks |
1 game | Threw a punch |
| Sheri Sam Sheri Sam Sheri Lynette Sam is an American professional basketball player currently playing in the WNBA. She was born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana on May 5, 1974 as the youngest of eight siblings, and where she was a standout at Acadiana High School. She graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1996... , Shock |
1 game | Left the bench |
| Elaine Powell Elaine Powell Elaine Powell is a professional basketball player. A point guard, she played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2008.-College career:In two years at LSU, Powell averaged 19.1 points per game... , Shock |
1 game | Left the bench |
| Tasha Humphrey Tasha Humphrey Tasha Humphrey is a professional basketball player. She played the center position for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA until being waived 6 July 2009. Her father is former Green Bay Packers player Donnie Humphrey.-College career:Completed her career as Georgia's second all-time scorer and... , Shock |
1 game | Left the bench |
| Kara Braxton Kara Braxton Kara Liana Braxton is an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty in the WNBA.-Early life:... , Shock |
1 game | Left the bench |
According to WNBA rules:
- Any player not on the floor who leaves the bench area during the altercation receives a one-game suspension.
- Any player who attempts to throw a punch (successful or not) receives a one-game suspension.
Because they were ejected after the altercation, Parker, Milton-Jones, Mahorn, and Pierson all started serving their suspensions the immediate next game. Also according to WNBA rules, each team must have at least eight active members to play a game. Therefore, suspensions were staggered by alphabetical order of last name. To have eight on the Sparks' roster, Page was allowed to play in the immediate next game and served her suspension starting with the second game after the altercation. Because she was not active, Powell served her suspension when she was taken off the inactive list.
See also
- List of violent spectator incidents in sports
- Knicks–Nuggets brawl
- Pacers–Pistons brawl