Tulsa Shock facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tulsa Shock
Conference	Western
Leagues	WNBA
Founded	1998
History	Detroit Shock (1998–2009) Tulsa Shock (2010–2015) Dallas Wings (2016–present)
Arena	BOK Center
Location	Tulsa, Oklahoma
Team colors	Gold, black, white, blood red
Main sponsor	Osage Casino
General manager	Steve Swetoha
Head coach	Fred Williams
Assistant(s)	Ed Baldwin Bridget Pettis
Ownership	Tulsa Pro Hoops LLC
Championships	3 (2003, 2006, 2008)
Conference titles	4 (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008)
Uniforms
Home Away

The Tulsa Shock was a professional basketball team. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They competed in the Western Conference.

The team first started in Detroit, Michigan, in 1998. It was known as the Detroit Shock. Before the 2010 season, the team moved to Tulsa. Tulsa Pro Hoops LLC owned the team. Bill Cameron and David Box led this ownership group. On July 20, 2015, the team announced it would move again. It relocated to Arlington, Texas, for the 2016 WNBA season. There, it became the Dallas Wings.

The Shock made it to the WNBA Playoffs in 2015. This was their last year in Tulsa. Famous players like Deanna Nolan, Katie Smith, Cheryl Ford, and Liz Cambage played for this team. As the Detroit Shock, they reached the WNBA Finals four times. They won championships in 2003, 2006, and 2008. They beat teams like Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Antonio. In 2007, they lost to Phoenix in the Finals.

Team History

The Detroit Shock Years (1998–2009)

Starting Out (1998–2002)

The Shock was one of the first new teams in the WNBA. They began playing in 1998. The team quickly brought in both new and experienced players. In their first five years, they only made the playoffs once. The Shock had two coaches: Nancy Lieberman and Greg Williams. Then, they hired Bill Laimbeer, a former Detroit Pistons star. After a very tough 2002 season, there were talks that the team might close down. But Laimbeer convinced the owners to keep the team. He was sure he could make them winners.

The Bill Laimbeer Era (2003–2008)

Bill Laimbeer, a successful coach for the Shock.

Bill Laimbeer made many changes to the team's roster. Before the 2003 season, he said the Shock would win the league championship. Amazingly, his prediction came true! The Shock finished with a great 25–9 record. They were the top team in their conference. In the playoffs, they beat the Cleveland Rockers and the Connecticut Sun. This sent them to the WNBA Finals.

Many people thought the Shock were big underdogs. They were playing against the Los Angeles Sparks, who had won two championships in a row. But the Shock won the series in a thrilling Game 3. This game had the biggest crowd in WNBA history, with 22,076 fans. Detroit became the first team to go from last place one season to WNBA champions the next.

The Shock didn't win in 2004 and 2005. But in 2006, they finished 23–11. They were second in the Eastern Conference. They defeated the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun. This led them to the Finals again. They faced the Sacramento Monarchs, who were the defending champions. The Shock won the series 3–2, earning their second WNBA title.

In 2007, the Shock reached the Finals once more. However, they lost to the Phoenix Mercury in five games. The 2008 Shock had a 22–12 record in the regular season. This was the best record in the East. In the Finals, the Shock played the San Antonio Silver Stars. San Antonio had not lost to an Eastern Conference team all season. Surprisingly, Detroit swept San Antonio, winning 3–0. This gave them their third championship.

The Last Detroit Season (2009)

The Shock were expected to do well in 2009. But they had a difficult start. Bill Laimbeer stepped down as head coach early in the season. The team even found itself at the bottom of the standings. However, interim coach Rick Mahorn helped the Shock bounce back. They played well in the second half of 2009. They made the playoffs for the seventh year in a row, with an 18–16 record. The Shock lost in the second round to the Indiana Fever. This was the first time since 2005 they didn't reach the Finals.

The Tulsa Shock Years (2010–2015)

Moving to Tulsa (2010)

Tulsa had been considered as a possible city for a new WNBA team. But plans didn't come together until mid-2009. A group of Tulsa businesspeople and politicians worked to bring a team there. They even hired Nolan Richardson, a well-known basketball coach. He was named the potential general manager and head coach. This was seen as unusual, as Tulsa didn't even have a team yet. The investors said it showed they were serious.

On October 20, 2009, it was officially announced. The Detroit Shock would move to Tulsa. WNBA President Donna Orender, investors Bill Cameron and David Box, and local leaders were there. On January 23, 2010, the team announced it would keep the name "Shock." Their new colors became black, red, and gold.

Difficult Years (2010–2014)

The Shock team that moved to Tulsa was very different. Detroit's best players did not come to Tulsa. Cheryl Ford sat out due to injuries. Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Katie Smith signed with other teams. Deanna Nolan went to play overseas. Also, new coach Nolan Richardson wanted his own players. By the middle of the 2010 season, no original Detroit players were left.

The team struggled a lot. Richardson's first draft pick, Amanda Thompson, didn't play much. Another signing, former Olympic track star Marion Jones, also didn't help much. She hadn't played serious basketball in 13 years. The team had many changes and couldn't find a rhythm. They finished with a poor 6–28 record. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

In 2011, the Shock picked 19-year-old Australian center Liz Cambage. They hoped to build the team around her. They also signed veteran player Sheryl Swoopes. But the changes weren't enough. The team started 1-10, and coach Richardson stepped down. Assistant coach Teresa Edwards took over. The Shock then had a 20-game losing streak. This was the longest losing streak in WNBA history.

The team continued to struggle in 2012, 2013, and 2014. They finished with losing records each season.

Success and Final Season in Tulsa (2015)

The 2015 Shock season started well. They had a 10–7 record, including a strong 6–1 at home. But in June, point guard Skylar Diggins got a knee injury. She missed the rest of the season. On July 20, 2015, the owner, Bill Cameron, announced a big change. The team would move to Dallas. The WNBA owners approved the move a few days later.

The last regular season home game for the Shock in Tulsa was on September 13. They played against Phoenix. The Shock did make the playoffs that year. But they were swept 2-0 by the same Phoenix team. The team's new home arena in Dallas-Fort Worth became the College Park Center. On November 2, 2015, the team officially changed its name to the Dallas Wings. The name was inspired by a famous "Flying Horse" symbol in Dallas. It also matched the local NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks.

Team Uniforms

• Detroit: At home, they wore white uniforms. These had the team's logo, the stylized Detroit Shock name, in black and blue. On the road, they wore blue jerseys with "Detroit" written across the front.
• Tulsa: At home, they wore gold uniforms with the stylized Tulsa Shock logo in black and gold. On the road, they wore black jerseys with "Tulsa" written diagonally in gold.

In 2013, the Osage Casino became a sponsor. Their logo appeared on the Shock's home and away jerseys.

Season-by-Season Records

Players

Final Roster

Tulsa Shock roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From F 24 Baugh, Vicki 6' 4" (1.93m) 190 lb (86kg) 05-21-1989 Tennessee 1 G/F 13 Christmas, Karima 6' 0" (1.83m) 180 lb (82kg) 09-11-1989 Duke 4 G 4 Diggins, Skylar  5' 9" (1.75m) 145 lb (66kg) 08-02-1990 Notre Dame 2 F 35 Hooper, Jordan 6' 2" (1.88m) 185 lb (84kg) 02-20-1992 Nebraska 1 G 12 Hrynko, Brittany 5' 8" (1.73m) 152 lb (69kg) 04-24-1993 DePaul R F 33 Jackson-Jones, Tiffany 6' 3" (1.91m) 185 lb (84kg) 04-26-1985 Texas 7 F 25 Johnson, Glory 6' 3" (1.91m) 170 lb (77kg) 07-27-1990 Tennessee 3 G 1 Kiesel, Brianna 5' 7" (1.7m) 125 lb (57kg) 07-08-1993 Pittsburgh R C 3 Paris, Courtney 6' 4" (1.93m) 250 lb (113kg) 09-21-1987 Oklahoma 5 F/C 22 Pierson, Plenette 6' 2" (1.88m) 178 lb (81kg) 08-31-1981 Texas Tech 12 F 55 Plaisance, Theresa 6' 5" (1.96m) 200 lb (91kg) 05-18-1992 LSU 1 G 0 Sims, Odyssey 5' 8" (1.73m) 160 lb (73kg) 07-13-1992 Baylor 1 G 2 Williams, Riquna 5' 7" (1.7m) 165 lb (75kg) 05-28-1990 Miami (FL) 3 C 32 Zahui B., Amanda 6' 5" (1.96m) 250 lb (113kg) 09-08-1993 Minnesota R	Head coach Fred Williams (Boise State) Assistant coaches Bridget Pettis (Florida) Ed Baldwin (North Carolina Central*) Athletic trainer Allison Russell (Tulsa) Legend (C) Team captain (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended Injured

Former Players

• Jennifer Azzi (1999)
• Carla Boyd (1998–1999, 2001)
• Kara Braxton (2005–2010)
• Sandy Brondello (1998–1999), now the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury
• Dominique Canty (1999–2002)
• Swin Cash (2002–2007), now Vice President of Basketball Operations and Team Development of the New Orleans Pelicans.
• Barbara Farris (2000–2005, 2009)
• Cheryl Ford (2003–2008)
• Alexis Hornbuckle (2008–2010)
• Tasha Humphrey (2008)
• Shannon Johnson (2007)
• Temeka Johnson (2012)
• Marion Jones (2010–2011)
• Ivory Latta (2007, 2010-2012)
• Taj McWilliams-Franklin (2008–2009)
• Astou Ndiaye-Diatta (1999–2003)
• Deanna Nolan (2001–2009)
• Wendy Palmer (1999–2002)
• Kayla Pedersen (2011-2013)
• Elaine Powell (2002–2008)
• Nicole Powell (2013)
• Ruth Riley (2003–2006)
• Katie Smith (2005–2009), now the assistant coach of the Minnesota Lynx
• Sheryl Swoopes (2011)
• Shavonte Zellous (2009–2010), now a member of the Washington Mystics

Coaches and Staff

Owners

• William Davidson, owner of the Detroit Pistons (1998–2009)
• Tulsa Pro Hoops LLC (2010–present). This group included Bill Cameron and David Box as main owners. Other owners were Chris Christian, Pat Chernicky, Sam and Rita Combs, Pat and Don Hardin, Paula Marshall, Stuart and Linda Price, and Katie and Scott Schofield.

Head Coaches

General Managers

Assistant Coaches

Hall of Famers

• Nancy Lieberman, honored in 1996
• Lynette Woodard, honored in 2004

Statistics

Media Coverage

Some Shock games were shown on The Cox Channel (COX). This is a local TV station in parts of Oklahoma. Often, NBA TV would also show these games nationally. The announcers for the Shock games were Mike Wolfe and Shanna Crossley.

Images for kids

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  The BOK Center, home of the Shock