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Shock headed to Tulsa
A formal announcement on the relocation of the WNBA team is set for today.

Alexis Hornbuckle averaged 10.6 points and 6.0 rebounds last season. JERRY S. MENDOZA / AP file

 
By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer
Published: 10/20/2009  2:24 AM
Last Modified: 10/20/2009  4:04 AM

Bill Cameron ended the speculation late Monday, issuing a brief statement in an e-mail to the Tulsa World confirming the three-time WNBA champion Detroit Shock is moving to Tulsa.

"We're thrilled to not only have a team, but one of the most successful teams in league history," Cameron said in the e-mail. "Under Coach Nolan Richardson, we're eager to build upon this team's success, and continue its winning tradition here in Tulsa."

WNBA president Donna Orender will make the formal announcement at a press conference scheduled for Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. at the Mayo Hotel.

Detroit made its debut in the league in 1998, two years after the league was established.

The Shock won titles in 2008, '06 and '03 and reached the Eastern Conference finals last month before losing to league runner-up Indiana Fever.

The Shock also hosted the three largest crowds in WNBA finals history (22,076 for Game 3 in 2003, 19,671 for Game 5 in 2006 and 22,076 for Game 5 in 2007).

But most games were sparsely attended, with a curtain covering the upper level of The Palace of Auburn Hills.

According to womensbasketballonline.com, the Shock averaged 8,004 in attendance in 2009 — a decline of about 1,500 from 2008. The franchise was fifth in the 13-team league in attendance in 2009.

David Box and Cameron, the lead investor, chairman and chief executive officer of the investment group, initiated the process to bring a WNBA team to Tulsa.

Nolan Richardson, a former University of Tulsa men's coach, was hired as coach last month. Richardson also coached at Arkansas and won a national championship with the Razorbacks in 1994. He will be coaching women's basketball for the first time.

In late July, the group announced plans to secure a team, along with local investors Don and Pat Hardin, Sam and Rita Combs, Pat Chernicky, Stuart and Linda Price and Paula Marshall. In September, Katie and Scott Schofield added their support.

The Shock is a veteran team that has six players with six or more years' experience in the league, including 10-year veteran Katie Smith. Smith, a three-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA, averaged 13.7 points per game this past season.

Former Tennessee guard Alexis Hornbuckle is also on the squad. The 6-foot-1 Hornbuckle helped Tennessee win back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2007 and '08.

Newcomer Shavonte Zellous averaged 15.6 points per game in her rookie season in 2009.

Guard Deanna Nolan, who played college ball at Georgia, led the Shock in scoring in 2009, averaging 21.6 points per game.

The WNBA regular season is played from June to September. Last year, the regular season included 17 home games in a 34-game schedule.


About the Shock

Detroit joined the WNBA in 1998. The Shock has played for four titles, winning three (2003, 2006, 2008). Former NBA All-Star and “Bad Boy” Bill Laimbeer coached the team from 2002-2009 before former teammate Rick Mahorn took over this season. Current players on the roster include WNBA All-Star Katie Smith and guard/forward Deana Nolan, who averaged 21.6 points in 2009.


Lynn Jacobsen 581-8461
lynn.jacobsen@tulsaworld.com
By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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119 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!

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Some reader comments for this story were copied from "WNBA's Detroit Shock moving to Tulsa," which was published on 10/19/2009.

Report Comment
i dbug, (10/19/2009 9:56:05 AM)
REALLY? I am SHOCK!
Report Comment
iflyfast, At an airport somewhere in the Tulsa area (10/19/2009 9:57:27 AM)
In other news.....Vegas just set the over/under for number of years the team will be here at 2.
Report Comment
Ryanoceros, Tulsa (10/19/2009 9:57:52 AM)
There is a WNBA?
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:01:21 AM)
Seems like a lot iflyfast.
Report Comment
iflyfast, At an airport somewhere in the Tulsa area (10/19/2009 10:02:56 AM)
1 to get the inaugural season and get fake warm and fuzzies for the owners, 2 to have reality hit is what I heard.
Report Comment
Oilsooner, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:04:16 AM)
When can we get discussions going to get an NFL franchise??
Report Comment
SS_Hippy, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:06:30 AM)
This is great news!
Report Comment
SoonerDJ, Lisbon, Portugal (10/19/2009 10:08:10 AM)
WNBA is better than NBA. At least the women aren't acting "gangsta". Buncha thugs in the NBA. Collegiate team sports are better than pro sports anyways. More exciting.
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:10:40 AM)
NFL is after the Olympics Oilsooner.
Report Comment
TWpostersRposers, (10/19/2009 10:10:51 AM)
Oilsooner, if we all support the team by attending at least one of the 17 or so home games, and we show other leagues we are capable of supporting a sports team, then maybe we can get into discussions with the NFL.

I'm not a huge WNBA fan, but I look at this as an opportunity to get more sports in Tulsa if we can show our support. I am going to attend at least one game.
Report Comment
Lance-a-lot, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:12:06 AM)
I agree with SoonerDJ, college sports are where its at! I can't stand the NBA or WNBA, but hey, I'm sure a lot of people will be happy to hear this, so I hope it works out.
Report Comment
sivart, bixby (10/19/2009 10:14:43 AM)
The WNBA also doesn't have to deal as much with having ILLEGIMATE children. Women can't play basketball while pregnant, can they?
Report Comment
sivart, bixby (10/19/2009 10:15:49 AM)
correction...."illegitimate"
Report Comment
Nim, Jenks (10/19/2009 10:18:42 AM)
All sports team fans are idiots.
Report Comment
Groove Monster, San Antonio (10/19/2009 10:24:56 AM)
We have the WNBA here in San Antonio, but they are so looked down upon because everyone loves the Spurs, and there's just no room for a second team in their hearts. When I move to Tulsa, I will probably try to take my girls to some of the WNBA games, just so they can see that option is available.

As for the NFL... San Antonio has been working on getting a pro team for years. The NFL has made is clear that San Antonio (pop. 2,031,445 based on the 2008 U.S. Census) is too small a market to host a team. Plus the people here are big Cowboys fans, and Jerry Jones has managed to keep the league looking elsewhere so he doesn't lose this market.
Report Comment
Mar, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:28:46 AM)
Ah contra-re, never underestimate Tulsa. :)

Am I just weird or do other find this odd? "...The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Monday because he was not authorized to make the announcement. ..."

I've noticed anymore almost all news articles have the above statement. My question is if the person is not authorized to make the statement, then why are they making the statement? Looks like the person would get fired. I find it strange
Report Comment
Mar, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:30:17 AM)
Nims comment is funny considering he lives in Jenks, the town where people live Jenk's Trojans football. ha ha
Report Comment
Willard_Roker, (10/19/2009 10:35:36 AM)
TWpostersRposers is right the best chance Oklahoma has for getting a NFL franchise is for both the Thunder and Tulsa's WNBA team to be successful. It will take both of them because where NBA areanas tend to seat 20,000 or less where NFL teams need to seat 50,000+.

We need to show we can fill a lot of seats.
Report Comment
The ORIGINAL Adman, (10/19/2009 10:39:15 AM)
I'm fine with the WNBA coming to town. Not sure I'll be at any games, but I am kind of getting tired of OKC folks trying to shove the worthless kind of pro bball in our faces.

Sure, I'm glad the state has an NBA team and for the first time in 20 years, I actually watch some NBA games on TV thanks to the Thunder. I think OKC earned their franchise the right way, too.

But, they give us one game a year, not even a real game, and then act like we're clueless at the game because there's little crowd noise.

It's tough to get up for a team where they demand our interest but deny access.

Heck, give us one home game in the fall and one in the spring. That's all. We don't need to share the team. If they want to act like Tulsa is a suburb of OKC, at least throw us a bone twice a year.

Instead of that, they come in and buy the 66ers, which is fine (it's a good idea for Tulsa's and OKC's bball teams be connected like that) and then their good ol' boy system says, "Hey, we are not gonna give you a real game for the REAL team, BUT, we will bring you a WNBA team! C'mon, watch pro bball, it's FAN-tastic!"

I hope the WNBA works. I really do. To me, it looks like the WNBA wants it to work here because if we are getting a really successful team in the Shock. Plus, they are leaving a strong bball market with popular people engaged with the franchise.

The WNBA may be looking at a model of fringe markets to gain success. I dunno. We are certainly one of those.

I think Tulsa is the ultimate "bachelor" like city. No, not FOR single guys, we ARE the single guy. We're too fickle to get married to a franchise or a team because commitment is too difficult. We are great hosts and we like to date the pretty girls who come to town every few years like the smokin' Hot PGA tourneys or the girl next door bball tourneys. Just don't ask us to marry anyone because we may not support it. Of course, we can support the low maintenance kinda gall who is always there and we always take for granted (Drillers, Talons) and then, when they threaten to leave us, we give them a lot of attention until they are satisfied and then we go back to looking for the next hot chick coming to town.
Report Comment
Daven, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:40:51 AM)
Great news!! Cant wait to go to a game!
Report Comment
FaithnHim, Crested Butte, (10/19/2009 10:43:59 AM)
Great news! I hope to be able to attend a few of the games. Should be a whole lotta fun!
Report Comment
quester, Tulsa Area (10/19/2009 10:45:39 AM)
This is great news unless you are a Detroit fan who is losing a team. It's a sad day in Detroit. My condolensces to Shock fans and season ticket holders. I'll do my part to make sure we take good care of them.

Welcome to your new home Shock. I think you'll like it once you get here.

Thank you Bill Cameron, David Box and investors for making this possible!
Report Comment
C.R. Delough, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:48:21 AM)
Nim must be a sports fan, otherwise why is he/she/it here? Welcome Nim! And congratulations on your emergence!

/just point that thing toward your favorite WNBA player Nim!
Report Comment
Tulsa Kayaker, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:49:13 AM)
All the naysayers are an ingnorant bunch.
Report Comment
edelweiss, Tulsa (10/19/2009 10:53:10 AM)
Great news for Tulsa!!! Me and my family look forward to attending some games! Thank you to those that made this happen. Tulsa is on the move again!!! YeeHaw!
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