The applause grew louder as Detroit Pistons PA announcer John Mason introduced each member of the 2003 Detroit Shock WNBA title team.
The Little Caesars Arena crowd cheered as Mason first announced support, training and coaching staffs. Then he introduced the members of the team with the loudest cheers saved for the four most famous names from the team that used to play in front of energized crowds at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Cheryl Ford, the 2003 rookie of the year, was beaming as she gleefully waved with both hands as she walked to halfcourt where the rest of her teammates were waiting.
Ruth Riley, the 2003 WNBA Finals MVP, was a touch more reserved, using one hand to wave to the crowd.
Swin Cash, the Hall of Famer, flashed the peace sign to the crowd as she walked onto the court.
The applause was loudest for Bill Laimbeer, the man who first was the heart and soul of the two-time NBA champion Bad Boys who later coached the Shock to three WNBA titles.
That was the scene Thursday night when the Pistons hosted at Shock reunion as part of the recognition of Women’s History Month. It’s the 20th anniversary of the 2003 title, which is memorable because the previous season, the Shock finished with the worst record in the league.
Led by Laimbeer as general manager and head coach, the team rolled a league-best 25-9 record during the regular season before defeating Cleveland (2-1) in the first round, Connecticut (2-0) in the conference finals and, and after losing the Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, won two consecutive games at the Palace to claim the title over the Los Angeles Sparks.
“Thanks to (Pistons owner (Tom) Gores and the Pistons organization for inviting everybody back,” Laimbeer told the crowd. “Worst to first will never happen again in the history of sports, I don’t think, but this team was very special.”
Pistons Chief Marketing Officer Alicia Jeffreys greeted team members, who each received an honorary glass basketball trophy with the Shock logo to commemorate the team’s victory over the Sparks in the WNBA Finals.
Shock fan Michelle Pryor, who was wearing a Cash jersey and carrying a Deanna Nolan jersey, thinks the night was well deserved.
“This is a great commemoration of their legacy and being able to celebrate them years later (is needed),” Pryor said. “Even though we don't have the team here anymore, it’s nice to just see their faces in the building again.”
‘My favorite memory’
Before the game, team members regaled fans in the LCA Heritage room with a panel discussion featuring memories of that championship season.
Although the team was the worst in the league the previous season, Laimbeer was confident the franchise’s fortunes were going to change. With the additions of Riley and Cash to a young group of Cash, Flint native Nolan and Elaine Powell, the Shock was better.
“It’s not about playing and getting paid, it's about winning championships,” Laimbeer said. “I have won championships and knew how it has to happen, and I tried to instill that in the basketball team.”
After losing their first home game of the season, the team won the next eight to announce its arrival as a league power. The coronation was complete when the Shock beat the Sparks, 83-78, to win the title in front of a sold-out Palace crowd.
“I get chills now still thinking about that, it’s my favorite memory,” Ford said.
Riley explained the team had a strong mentality and Laimbeer’s coaching helped bring them to the Finals.
“I think there was something really special about the group that we had together,” Riley said. “We were young, we were selfless, we were hungry, and we just loved the game; you could see that passion every time we stepped on the courts.”
Following the panel, each Shock player talked with fans, signed posters and shared loving memories of the game.
“Our coming back is a part of the Pistons’ celebration of Women’s History Month and what we were able to do for the franchise 20 years ago,” Riley said. “It is special as a female professional basketball player to just take a moment to realize what we're able to accomplish and how that has impacted the growth of the game.”