2006 WNBA Finals
Encyclopedia
The 2006 WNBA Finals was the championship series of the 2006 WNBA season
, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs
. The Detroit Shock
, second-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference
, defeated the Sacramento Monarchs
, second-seeded champions of the Western Conference
, three games to two in a best-of-five series. This was Detroit's second title.
The Shock made their second appearance in the Finals in four years. The Monarchs appeared in the Finals for the second straight time after having won the title in 2005.
Going into the series, the Shock had won one championship, as had the Monarchs. The Houston Comets
hold the record with four championships won.
The Shock's 23-11 record gave them home court advantage over Sacramento (21–13), but a scheduling conflict meant that the fifth and deciding game had to be moved to Joe Louis Arena
in downtown Detroit.
led a balanced attack with 22 points as the Monarchs posted an impressive 95-71 victory over the Detroit Shock in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Sacramento, which set a WNBA Finals
record for points, field goals (35) and 3-pointers (ten), took the early edge in the best-of-five series.
Cheryl Ford
scored 25 points and Katie Smith
added 21 for Detroit, which is seeking its second title in four years. The Shock certainly will not get there committing a Finals-record 24 turnovers as they did in Game 1.
Sacramento officially took charge of the contest with an 8-0 run during the third quarter that turned a 13-point lead into a 61-40 bulge with 6:09 to play. Nicole Powell
ignited the surge with a 3-pointer and Griffith made a pair of baskets before Ticha Penicheiro
capped the run with a free throw.
The Shock got within 76-62 midway through the fourth quarter, but Lawson came off the bench to hit three 3-pointers as the Monarchs extended their cushion to 91-71 with 2:57 remaining. Lawson finished 6-of-8 from the arc, setting a Finals record for made 3-pointers. Powell connected on 4-of-7 attempts as Sacramento finished 10-of-19 from long range.
scored 21 points and Smith added 16 - all in the second half - as the Shock rebounded from a slow start to even the best-of-three series with a 73-63 victory in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals.
Swin Cash
collected 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Detroit, which gave Sacramento (5-1) its first loss of the postseason and avoided falling into an 0-2 hole.
Trailing by nine at the half and 54-48 entering the final period, the Shock were on the verge of being one game away from a Finals' loss. However, after scoring the last three points of the third quarter, Detroit ran off the first eight points of the frame. A jumper by Nolan capped the spurt and gave the Shock the lead for good, 56-54, with 7:43 left.
After Detroit maintained the edge over the next five minutes, Katie Smith
made it 67-58 on a 3-pointer with 2:57 to go.
scored 15 points, and Nicole Powell
added 14, as the Monarchs took control of the WNBA Finals
with an 89-69 rout of the Detroit Shock
in Game 3. Capturing its 11th consecutive playoff victory here, Sacramento improved its home record in the postseason to 12-2 (.857), the best mark in league history.
On the way to claiming their first title last season, the Monarchs stole home-court advantage from the Connecticut Sun
and then captured both home games to complete the series in four games. So far, that has been the same blueprint Sacramento has used to take control of this series. After setting a Finals record for points in a 95-71 victory in the opener in Detroit on Wednesday, the Monarchs dismantled the Shock to move within a win here of a second consecutive title.
Despite failing to capitalize on an six-point lead entering the fourth quarter of Game 2 in a 73-63 loss, Sacramento came out fired up, using an 9-0 run at the start of the second to pull ahead, 29-18, with 7:46 to play. Rookie Scholanda Dorrell sank a pair of 3-pointers during the burst. Griffith, the MVP of last season's Finals, scored her team's final eight points before the half to maintain an 11-point edge at the break, 44-33.
and Cheryl Ford
carried the load to help the Detroit Shock extend the WNBA Finals to a decisive fifth game.
Smith scored 22 points and Ford added 13 with 10 rebounds as the Shock avoided elimination by posting a 72-52 triumph over the defending champion Sacramento Monarchs
.
Rebounding from Sunday's 89-69 loss in Game 3, Detroit ended Sacramento's 11-game home playoff winning streak and will host the final game of the series on Saturday. Each of the previous league champions clinched the title on its home floor.
scored 17 points, including two clutch jumpers in the final two minutes, as the Detroit Shock
claimed their second title with a stirring 80-75 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs
.
The Shock, who also won the title in 2003
, won the last two games of the best-of-five series and dethroned the Monarchs, who were trying to become the league's third repeat champion. Instead, Detroit joined Houston
(1997-2000) and Los Angeles
(2001-02) as multiple championship winners.
Deanna Nolan
scored 24 points and was named Finals MVP. Nolan scored 10 points in the pivotal third quarter, when the Shock held the Monarchs to nine points and took the lead for good.
A 3-pointer by Nolan gave Detroit a 68-55 lead before Sacramento made a final charge, closing to 75-69 on a 3-pointer by Kristin Haynie
with 2:05 remaining. Smith answered with a 3-pointer 19 seconds later.
A three-point play by Haynie and 3-pointer by foul-plagued Nicole Powell
pulled the Monarchs within 78-75 with 33 seconds to play. Sacramento elected not to foul but Smith foiled the strategy by draining a 15-footer with 14 seconds remaining.
Smith grabbed a last-gasp shot and hurled the ball skyward in celebration. She is the all-time leading scorer in women's professional basketball history and a former WNBA scoring champion, but she never had been on a championship team - until now.
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color: #00008B; color: #D3D3D3; text-align: center;" | 2006 Detroit Shock Finals roster
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #483B8D; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;" | 2006 Sacramento Monarchs Finals roster
|- style="background-color: #483B8D;color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
|-
| valign="top" |
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2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
. 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...
, second-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
, defeated the Sacramento Monarchs
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
, second-seeded champions of the Western Conference
Western Conference (WNBA)
The Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference...
, three games to two in a best-of-five series. This was Detroit's second title.
The Shock made their second appearance in the Finals in four years. The Monarchs appeared in the Finals for the second straight time after having won the title in 2005.
Going into the series, the Shock had won one championship, as had the Monarchs. The Houston Comets
Houston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
hold the record with four championships won.
The Shock's 23-11 record gave them home court advantage over Sacramento (21–13), but a scheduling conflict meant that the fifth and deciding game had to be moved to Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena
Joe Louis Arena, nicknamed The Joe and JLA is a hockey arena located at 600 Civic Center Drive in Detroit, Michigan. It is the home of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Completed in 1979 at a cost of $57 million, Joe Louis Arena is named after boxer and former heavyweight...
in downtown Detroit.
Road to the finals
| Sacramento Monarchs | Detroit Shock | |
|---|---|---|
| 23–11 (.676) 2nd West, 4th overall |
Regular season 2006 WNBA season -External links:*******... |
21–13 (.706) 2nd East, 3rd overall |
| Defeated the (3) Houston Comets Houston Comets The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and... , 2–0 |
Conference Semifinals | Defeated the (3) Indiana Fever Indiana Fever The Indiana Fever is a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began... , 2–0 |
| Defeated the (1) 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... , 2–0 |
Conference Finals | Defeated the (1) Connecticut Sun Connecticut Sun The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season... , 2–1 |
Regular season series
The Shock and the Monarchs split the regular season series:Game 1
Kara LawsonKara Lawson
-External links:**...
led a balanced attack with 22 points as the Monarchs posted an impressive 95-71 victory over the Detroit Shock in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Sacramento, which set a WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
record for points, field goals (35) and 3-pointers (ten), took the early edge in the best-of-five series.
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:...
scored 25 points and Katie Smith
Katie Smith
Katherine May "Katie" Smith is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA. Her primary position is shooting guard, although she sometimes plays small forward or point guard. She is the all time leading scorer in women's professional basketball, having notched over 7000 points in both...
added 21 for Detroit, which is seeking its second title in four years. The Shock certainly will not get there committing a Finals-record 24 turnovers as they did in Game 1.
Sacramento officially took charge of the contest with an 8-0 run during the third quarter that turned a 13-point lead into a 61-40 bulge with 6:09 to play. Nicole Powell
Nicole Powell
Nicole Kristen Powell is a basketball player who was a standout at Stanford University and now plays for the New York Liberty in the WNBA...
ignited the surge with a 3-pointer and Griffith made a pair of baskets before Ticha Penicheiro
Ticha Penicheiro
Ticha Penicheiro is a Portuguese professional basketball player who plays for Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA...
capped the run with a free throw.
The Shock got within 76-62 midway through the fourth quarter, but Lawson came off the bench to hit three 3-pointers as the Monarchs extended their cushion to 91-71 with 2:57 remaining. Lawson finished 6-of-8 from the arc, setting a Finals record for made 3-pointers. Powell connected on 4-of-7 attempts as Sacramento finished 10-of-19 from long range.
Game 2
Deanna NolanDeanna 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...
scored 21 points and Smith added 16 - all in the second half - as the Shock rebounded from a slow start to even the best-of-three series with a 73-63 victory in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals.
Swin Cash
Swin Cash
Swintayla Marie Cash , better known as Swin Cash, is an American WNBA player who plays for the Seattle Storm. A prolific scorer and rebounder, as well as a capable ball handler and defender, she helped lead the University of Connecticut women's basketball team to national titles in 2000 and 2002...
collected 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Detroit, which gave Sacramento (5-1) its first loss of the postseason and avoided falling into an 0-2 hole.
Trailing by nine at the half and 54-48 entering the final period, the Shock were on the verge of being one game away from a Finals' loss. However, after scoring the last three points of the third quarter, Detroit ran off the first eight points of the frame. A jumper by Nolan capped the spurt and gave the Shock the lead for good, 56-54, with 7:43 left.
After Detroit maintained the edge over the next five minutes, Katie Smith
Katie Smith
Katherine May "Katie" Smith is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA. Her primary position is shooting guard, although she sometimes plays small forward or point guard. She is the all time leading scorer in women's professional basketball, having notched over 7000 points in both...
made it 67-58 on a 3-pointer with 2:57 to go.
Game 3
Yolanda GriffithYolanda Griffith
Yolanda Evette Griffith is a former American professional basketball who played in both the ABL, and WNBA. A Former WNBA MVP she is considered one of the greatest rebounders and defensive players in the history of Women's Basketball. She last played in the WNBA as a member of the Indiana Fever...
scored 15 points, and Nicole Powell
Nicole Powell
Nicole Kristen Powell is a basketball player who was a standout at Stanford University and now plays for the New York Liberty in the WNBA...
added 14, as the Monarchs took control of the WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
with an 89-69 rout of 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...
in Game 3. Capturing its 11th consecutive playoff victory here, Sacramento improved its home record in the postseason to 12-2 (.857), the best mark in league history.
On the way to claiming their first title last season, the Monarchs stole home-court advantage from the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
and then captured both home games to complete the series in four games. So far, that has been the same blueprint Sacramento has used to take control of this series. After setting a Finals record for points in a 95-71 victory in the opener in Detroit on Wednesday, the Monarchs dismantled the Shock to move within a win here of a second consecutive title.
Despite failing to capitalize on an six-point lead entering the fourth quarter of Game 2 in a 73-63 loss, Sacramento came out fired up, using an 9-0 run at the start of the second to pull ahead, 29-18, with 7:46 to play. Rookie Scholanda Dorrell sank a pair of 3-pointers during the burst. Griffith, the MVP of last season's Finals, scored her team's final eight points before the half to maintain an 11-point edge at the break, 44-33.
Game 4
Katie SmithKatie Smith
Katherine May "Katie" Smith is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA. Her primary position is shooting guard, although she sometimes plays small forward or point guard. She is the all time leading scorer in women's professional basketball, having notched over 7000 points in both...
and 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:...
carried the load to help the Detroit Shock extend the WNBA Finals to a decisive fifth game.
Smith scored 22 points and Ford added 13 with 10 rebounds as the Shock avoided elimination by posting a 72-52 triumph over the defending champion Sacramento Monarchs
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
.
Rebounding from Sunday's 89-69 loss in Game 3, Detroit ended Sacramento's 11-game home playoff winning streak and will host the final game of the series on Saturday. Each of the previous league champions clinched the title on its home floor.
Game 5
Katie SmithKatie Smith
Katherine May "Katie" Smith is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA. Her primary position is shooting guard, although she sometimes plays small forward or point guard. She is the all time leading scorer in women's professional basketball, having notched over 7000 points in both...
scored 17 points, including two clutch jumpers in the final two minutes, as 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...
claimed their second title with a stirring 80-75 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
.
The Shock, who also won the title in 2003
2003 WNBA season
-External links:***...
, won the last two games of the best-of-five series and dethroned the Monarchs, who were trying to become the league's third repeat champion. Instead, Detroit joined Houston
Houston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
(1997-2000) and Los Angeles
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...
(2001-02) as multiple championship winners.
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...
scored 24 points and was named Finals MVP. Nolan scored 10 points in the pivotal third quarter, when the Shock held the Monarchs to nine points and took the lead for good.
A 3-pointer by Nolan gave Detroit a 68-55 lead before Sacramento made a final charge, closing to 75-69 on a 3-pointer by Kristin Haynie
Kristin Haynie
Kristin Lynne Haynie is an American basketball player in the WNBA for the Sacramento Monarchs.-High school years:Haynie was born and raised in Mason, Michigan...
with 2:05 remaining. Smith answered with a 3-pointer 19 seconds later.
A three-point play by Haynie and 3-pointer by foul-plagued Nicole Powell
Nicole Powell
Nicole Kristen Powell is a basketball player who was a standout at Stanford University and now plays for the New York Liberty in the WNBA...
pulled the Monarchs within 78-75 with 33 seconds to play. Sacramento elected not to foul but Smith foiled the strategy by draining a 15-footer with 14 seconds remaining.
Smith grabbed a last-gasp shot and hurled the ball skyward in celebration. She is the all-time leading scorer in women's professional basketball history and a former WNBA scoring champion, but she never had been on a championship team - until now.
Awards
- 2006 WNBA Champion: Detroit ShockDetroit ShockThe Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
- Finals MVP: Deanna NolanDeanna NolanDeanna "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...
Rosters
{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%; width: 100%;"|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color: #00008B; color: #D3D3D3; text-align: center;" | 2006 Detroit Shock Finals roster
|- style="background-color: #DC143C;color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
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| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
! Pos. !! # !! Nat. !! Name !! Height !! Weight !!class="unsortable"| !! From
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{| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%; width: 100%;"
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! colspan="2" style="background-color: #483B8D; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;" | 2006 Sacramento Monarchs Finals roster
|- style="background-color: #483B8D;color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;"
! Players !! Coaches
|-
| valign="top" |
{| class="sortable" style="background:transparent; margin:0px; width:100%;"
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