Sparks–Shock brawl

The Sparks-Shock brawl (also known as The Malice at the Palace II) was an altercation that occurred in a Women's National Basketball Association game between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks on July 21, 2008 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. "It was," wrote Ray Ratto in the Wall Street Journal, "in the classic sense, one of those things that occasionally happens when highly competitive people want the same thing and one can’t have it."^[1] The Shock trailed 42-21 in the second quarter but pulled within 76-75 in the final 90 seconds. Detroit rookie Alexis Hornbuckle then stole the ball from Candace Parker, her former college teammate at Tennessee, but Deanna Nolan lost control while going in for what would have been a go-ahead layup.^[2]

Altercation

With 4.5 seconds before the game was officially over, the fighting began on the court after a free throw attempt when Plenette Pierson made a hard block out on Candace Parker; the two players became entangled and fell. As Parker was down, Pierson stormed over to Parker and aggressively walked over the top of her; in response, Parker pulled Pierson to the court. Parker threw a punch at Pierson before being tackled by Deanna Nolan as players and coaches from both teams joined in. Coach Rick Mahorn came off the bench as a peacemaker, but the 6-10, 300-plus pounder incited more violence when he inadvertently knocked Los Angeles forward Lisa Leslie to the floor. Leslie's teammate, DeLisha Milton-Jones, punched a stunned Mahorn in the shoulder.^[3] Sparks players Murriel Page and Shannon Bobbitt also hit Mahorn. Pierson, Parker, Milton-Jones, and Mahorn were all ejected from the game. The altercation also resulted in a season-ending ACL injury to Shock player Cheryl Ford, who was trying to restrain her teammate.

This was the second major basketball fight to occur at The Palace in four years, the other being the Pacers–Pistons brawl in 2004.

Suspensions

According to WNBA rules:

• Any player not on the floor who leaves the bench area during the altercation receives a one-game suspension.
• Any player who attempts to throw a punch (successful or not) receives a one-game suspension.

Because they were ejected after the altercation, Parker, Milton-Jones, Mahorn, and Pierson all started serving their suspensions the immediate next game. Also according to WNBA rules, each team must have at least eight active members to play a game. Therefore, suspensions were staggered by alphabetical order of last name. To have eight on the Sparks' roster, Page was allowed to play in the immediate next game and served her suspension starting with the second game after the altercation. Because she was not active, Powell served her suspension when she was taken off the inactive list.

See also

• List of violent spectator incidents in sports
• Knicks–Nuggets brawl
• Pacers–Pistons brawl

References

External links

• WNBA Announces Penalties From Shock-Sparks Game
• Ejected Parker, Milton-Jones help Sparks hold on vs. Shock
• WNBA hands down suspensions for Shock-Sparks skirmish