Upon starting in 1998, the team quickly brought a blend of rookies and veterans, such as Sandy Brondello. (Brondello was later traded to the Miami Sol before the 2001 season.)
Detroit came in last place during the 2002 season, and former Detroit Pistons center Bill Laimbeer was brought in as coach. Laimbeer's ideas influenced the team's front management, which agreed with the new coach's idea bring over some new players he felt necessary to become a contender. Laimbeer predicted that the Shock would be league champions in 2003, and his prediction became a reality when they defeated the Los Angeles Sparks, two games to one, in the 2003 WNBA Finals. The final score in the championship game that year was Shock 83, Sparks 78. Detroit, much like the 1991 Minnesota Twins in baseball, became the first team in WNBA history to make it from last place to WNBA champions the next year, and the Shock also became the second Eastern conference team to win the championship in WNBA history ( The Houston Comets were in the Eastern Conference in 1997).
Home Court
'Notable Past Players