# 2009 Detroit Shock season

The 2009 WNBA season is the 12th for the Detroit Shock of the Women's National Basketball Association in the United States. The Shock attempted to win the WNBA Finals, tying the record for most championships with the Houston Comets (4 but failed in the conference finals. On June 15, 2009, head coach Bill Laimbeer resigned as head coach of the Detroit Shock, due to family reasons and the desire to become an NBA head coach. Though he was unable to secure an NBA head coaching position, ESPN reported on August 30 that Laimbeer was offered, and accepted, an assistant coach position with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Shock is able to overcome the early struggles, and in 2008 championship Detroit Shock reached the playoffs in its seventh straight year. It was their final year in Detroit, as the Shock were purchased by Tulsa Hoops, and new ownership moved the team to Tulsa for 2010.

## Offseason
### Dispersal Draft

Based on the Shock's 2008 record, they could have picked 11th in the Houston Comets dispersal draft. However, the Shock waived their pick.

### WNBA draft

The following are the Shock's selections in the 2009 WNBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Team/Country |
| 1 | 11 | Shavonte Zellous | United States | Pittsburgh |
| 2 | 18 (from Phx. via Atl.) | Britany Miller | United States | Florida State |
| 3 | 37 | Tanae Davis-Cain | United States | Florida State |

### Transactions

* August 18: The Shock signed Nikki Teasley after Barbara Farris' seven-day contract expired.
* August 17: The Shock acquired Crystal Kelly from the Sacramento Monarchs in exchange for Kristin Haynie.
* August 4: The Shock signed Barbara Farris after Anna DeForge's seven-day contract expired.
* July 27: The Shock signed Anna DeForge.
* July 23: The Shock waived Anna DeForge.
* July 10: The Shock signed Anna DeForge.
* July 6: The Shock waived Barbara Farris.
* June 28: The Shock terminated the replacement contract of Sherill Baker.
* June 26: The Shock signed Sherill Baker to a replacement contract.
* June 18: The Shock terminated the replacement contract of Kelly Schumacher due to the return of Cheryl Ford.
* June 15: The Shock announced the resignation of Bill Laimbeer. Assistant coach Rick Mahorn was promoted to head coach, while assistant coach Cheryl Reeve took over general management duties.
* June 10: The Shock terminated Britany Miller's replacement contract and signed Kelly Schumacher to a replacement contract.
* June 8: The Shock signed Britany Miller to a replacement contract.
* June 3: The Shock waived Kristen Rasmussen, Tiera DeLaHoussaye, Britany Miller, and Sequoia Holmes.
* May 28: The Shock signed Barbara Farris.
* May 27: The Shock waived Tanae Davis-Cain.
* May 18: The Shock signed Kristen Rasmussen and Sequoia Holmes.
* April 22: The Shock signed Kristin Haynie.
* April 16: The Shock signed Tiera DeLaHoussaye to a training camp contract.
* April 9: The Shock traded Ashley Shields to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for the 18th pick in the 2009 WNBA Draft.
* January 30: The Shock signed Ashley Shields to a training-camp contract.
* January 9: The Shock re-signed free agent Kara Braxton.
* August 19, 2008: The Shock signed Taj McWilliams-Franklin to a one-year extension.
* August 12, 2008: The Shock traded their second-round 2009 WNBA Draft pick to the Washington Mystics as part of the Taj McWilliams-Franklin acquisition.
| Date | Trade | Trade |
| April 9, 2009 | To Detroit Shock | To Atlanta Dream |
| April 9, 2009 | 18th pick in 2009 Draft | Ashley Shields |

### Free agents
## Season standings

| Eastern Conference | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Conf. |
| Indiana Fever $^x$ | 22 | 12 | .647 | – | 14–3 | 8–9 | 17–5 |
| Atlanta Dream $^x$ | 18 | 16 | .529 | 4.0 | 12–5 | 6–11 | 10–12 |
| Detroit Shock $^x$ | 18 | 16 | .529 | 4.0 | 11–6 | 7–10 | 11–11 |
| Washington Mystics $^x$ | 16 | 18 | .471 | 6.0 | 11–6 | 5–12 | 10–12 |
| Chicago Sky $^o$ | 16 | 18 | .471 | 6.0 | 12–5 | 4–13 | 10–12 |
| Connecticut Sun $^o$ | 16 | 18 | .471 | 6.0 | 12–5 | 4–13 | 9–12 |
| New York Liberty $^o$ | 13 | 21 | .382 | 9.0 | 8–9 | 5–12 | 8–13 |

## Schedule
### Preseason

2009 Game Log: Preseason
GameDateTime (ET)OpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
1May 227:30pm@ Chicago67-71Hornbuckle (14)Miller (10)DeLaHoussaye (5)UIC Pavilion 3,2830-1
2May 2711:00amChicago78-68Zellous (18)Zellous (8)Smith (5)Palace of Auburn Hills 3,9521-1
3May 307:00pmSan Antonio62-55Zellous (13)Sanni (6)Hornbuckle (3)Traverse City West H.S. 2,1092-1 :

### Regular season

2009 Game Log: Regular Season :
June
GameDateTime (ET)OpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
1June 62:30pm@ Los AngelesABC58-78Nolan (15)Smith (7)McWilliams (4)STAPLES Center 13,1540-1
2June 87:30pmLos Angeles81-52Nolan (27)Hornbuckle, McWilliams (7)Haynie, Hornbuckle, Smith (3)Palace of Auburn Hills 13,9151-1
3June 107:30pmWashington69-75Smith, McWilliams (14)Sanni, Zellous (7)Nolan (6)Palace of Auburn Hills 7,3291-2
4June 197:30pmIndiana54-66Nolan (13)Hornbuckle, McWilliams (10)Hornbuckle, Nolan, Smith (2)Palace of Auburn Hills 7,7251-3
5June 216:00pm@ IndianaNBA TV FSI70-82Nolan (16)Nolan (8)Nolan (6)Conseco Fieldhouse 7,6101-4
6June 267:30pm@ Atlanta86-96Zellous (25)McWilliams (9)McWilliams, Nolan (2)Philips Arena 5,9351-5
7June 286:00pmSacramento86-72Zellous (18)Ford (8)McWilliams, Smith (3)Palace of Auburn Hills 7,2772-5 :
July
GameDateTime (ET)OpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
8July 27:30pm@ New YorkMSG64-80Ford (13)Ford, Hornbuckle (10)Smith (5)Madison Square Garden 8,0182-6
9July 56:00pmConnecticut92-95 (OT)Smith (28)Hornbuckle (12)McWilliams (5)Palace of Auburn Hills 6,9812-7
10July 117:00pm@ ConnecticutNBA TV WCTX79-77 (OT)Smith (25)Braxton (13)Smith (3)Mohegan Sun Arena 6,3423-7
11July 1510:00pm@ SeattleNBA TV FSN-NW66-62Smith (19)Ford (8)Nolan (7)KeyArena 6,8214-7
12July 1810:00pm@ Phoenix90-97Smith (21)McWilliams (12)Smith (5)US Airways Center 8,2884-8
13July 199:00pm@ Sacramento69-65McWilliams (21)McWilliams (12)Braxton, Nolan, Smith, Zellous (3)ARCO Arena 7,5385-8
14July 2212:00pmAtlanta95-98 (OT)Braxton (25)Braxton (12)Nolan (9)Palace of Auburn Hills 14,4395-9
15July 317:30pmMinnesota91-83Nolan (22)Ford (9)McWilliams, Nolan (9)Palace of Auburn Hills 9,3146-9 :
August
GameDateTime (ET)OpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
16August 26:00pmConnecticut65-83Nolan (20)Ford (9)Nolan (4)Palace of Auburn Hills 7,8146-10
17August 47:30pmNew YorkESPN276-64Nolan (26)Nolan (14)McWilliams, Nolan, Smith (4)Palace of Auburn Hills 7,0817-10
18August 77:00pm@ Washington66-70Braxton (14)McWilliams (7)Nolan (6)Verizon Center 10,6377-11
19August 96:00pmChicago64-58Zellous (19)McWilliams (12)Smith (4)Palace of Auburn Hills 6,8938-11
20August 117:00pm@ Washington81-77Nolan (23)McWilliams (13)McWilliams, Zellous (4)Verizon Center 10,3989-11
21August 137:30pm@ Atlanta75-80Nolan (20)McWilliams (10)McWilliams (5)Philips Arena 5,6419-12
22August 157:00pm@ Indiana59-82Zellous (16)Braxton (10)McWilliams, Zellous (3)Conseco Fieldhouse 9,9639-13
23August 187:30pmSeattle75-79Nolan (29)McWilliams (8)Smith (5)Palace of Auburn Hills 7,3929-14
24August 228:00pm@ Chicago76-67Smith (10)Ford (9)4 players (4)UIC Pavilion 5,16710-14
25August 236:00pmSan Antonio99-87Smith (31)McWilliams, Nolan (7)Hornbuckle (7)Palace of Auburn Hills 7,13011-14
26August 257:00pm@ Connecticut90-70Smith (19)Kelly (8)Zellous (5)Mohegan Sun Arena 6,81112-14
27August 277:30pmAtlanta87-83Nolan (29)Ford (12)Hornbuckle (5)Palace of Auburn Hills 5,69513-14
28August 293:00pm@ San AntonioESPN288-100 (OT)Nolan (34)Braxton (7)Teasley (5)AT&T Center 7,73513-15 :
September
GameDateTime (ET)OpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
29September 17:30pmPhoenix101-99Ford (22)Ford (11)Teasley, Zellous (5)Palace of Auburn Hills 5,23914-15
30September 47:30pmIndiana70-63 (OT)Nolan (22)Ford (12)Nolan (4)Palace of Auburn Hills 7,23015-15
31September 66:00pmChicago84-75Nolan (19)Nolan (8)Braxton, Hornbuckle, Nolan (4)Palace of Auburn Hills 6,61916-15
32September 98:00pm@ Minnesota72-75Ford (16)Ford (12)Ford, Teasley, Zellous (4)Target Center 7,42316-16
33September 107:30pmNew YorkNBA TV MSG94-87 (OT)Nolan (34)Braxton, McWilliams (8)Hornbuckle, Zellous (5)Palace of Auburn Hills 8,17817-16
34September 128:00pm@ Chicago80-69Zellous (20)McWilliams (10)Nolan, Zellous (4)UIC Pavilion 5,33418-16 :
All games are viewable on WNBA LiveAccess :

### Postseason

2009 Game Log: Postseason :
Eastern Conference Semifinals
GameDateTime (ET)OpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceSeries
1September 168:00pmAtlantaESPN294-89Nolan (25)Ford (10)Hornbuckle (5)Palace of Auburn Hills 6,1221-0
2September 187:30pm@ AtlantaNBA TV94-79Nolan (22)Braxton, Hornbuckle (8)Braxton, Nolan (5)Gwinnett Arena 4,7802-0 :
Eastern Conference Finals
GameDateTime (ET)OpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceSeries
1September 238:00pmIndianaESPN272-56Zellous (23)Braxton, Ford (9)Zellous (5)Palace of Auburn Hills 7,2141-0
2September 257:00pm@ IndianaNBA TV75-79Nolan (23)Ford (13)Hornbuckle, Nolan, Zellous (3)Conseco Fieldhouse 9,2101-1
3September 267:00pm@ IndianaNBA TV67-72Nolan (16)Ford (11)Hornbuckle, McWilliams, Nolan (4)Conseco Fieldhouse 18,1651-2 :

## Regular Season Statistics
### Player statistics

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Sherill Baker | 1 | 0 | 11.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 7.0 |
| Kara Braxton | 28 | 2 | 18.0 | 6.0 | 1.5 | 0.68 | 0.64 | 9.0 |
| Barbara Farris | 13 | 3 | 8.5 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.38 | 0.00 | 1.3 |
| Tanae Davis-Cain | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2.0 |
| Anna DeForge | 7 | 7 | 16.1 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.57 | 0.00 | 1.4 |
| Cheryl Ford | 29 | 29 | 26.0 | 7.4 | 0.9 | 0.97 | 0.45 | 8.6 |
| Kristin Haynie | 20 | 2 | 8.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.70 | 0.00 | 2.2 |
| Alexis Hornbuckle | 32 | 21 | 26.6 | 4.9 | 2.7 | 1.31 | 0.28 | 6.7 |
| Crystal Kelly | 11 | 0 | 7.6 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.36 | 0.09 | 2.8 |
| Taj McWilliams | 34 | 34 | 30.4 | 6.6 | 2.9 | 0.97 | 0.47 | 9.8 |
| Britany Miller | 1 | 0 | 8.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.00 | 0.00 | 0.0 |
| Deanna Nolan | 33 | 33 | 33.7 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 1.33 | 0.30 | 16.9 |
| Plenette Pierson | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 0.0 |
| Olayinka Sanni | 31 | 1 | 9.6 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.35 | 0.16 | 3.8 |
| Kelly Schumacher | 1 | 0 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 0.0 |
| Katie Smith | 27 | 27 | 33.1 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 0.78 | 0.07 | 13.7 |
| Nikki Teasley | 11 | 7 | 20.2 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 0.55 | 0.36 | 3.8 |
| Shavonte Zellous | 34 | 4 | 23.6 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 0.79 | 0.50 | 11.9 |

### Team statistics

| Team | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PF | PPG |
| Detroit Shock | .430 | .351 | .748 | 36.1 | 16.9 | 7.7 | 2.8 | 16.1 | 22.5 | 78.0 |
| Opponents | .410 | .340 | .777 | 32.4 | 15.4 | 8.2 | 3.2 | 15.6 | 21.1 | 77.8 |

## Awards and honors

* Deanna Nolan was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of August 24, 2009.
* Deanna Nolan was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of August 31, 2009.
* Deanna Nolan was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of September 7, 2009.
* Katie Smith was named to the 2009 WNBA All-Star Team as an Eastern Conference reserve.
* Shavonte Zellous was named to the All-Rookie Team.
* Deanna Nolan was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
* Deanna Nolan was named to the All-Defensive Second Team.