Brawl Presence

Nobody really expected it, but it happened yesterday at Auburn Hills. Yup, there was a bench-clearing scuffle in an WNBA basketball game between Los Angeles and Detroit. The Sparkes won 84-81 victory by the Sparks, ending a five-game road losing streak.


Photo by Jerry S. Mendoza of AP shows players presence on the court and not playing basketball.

Many players and even coaches made their presence felt on the court which was captured live on television and photos going around blogosphere.

The game was done to the last 4.5 seconds when the ten players presence on left on the court changed to a fight or a scuffle which included players and coaches on the bench.

It all begun when Parker and Shock forward Plenette Pierson tangled arms as they were moving down the court. Both players to tumbled to the floor. And all hell broke loose.

Both benches were emptied. Lisa Leslie came to Parker's rescue but was pushed away by Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn, causing her to fall to the hardwood floor. DeLisha Milton-Jones of the LA Sparks then slapped Mahorn in the back. Players like Parker, Milton-Jones, Mahorn and Pierson were ejected. Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn is also ejected for pushing Sparks' Lisa Leslie. Shock player Cheryl Ford injured her knee and had to be taken away in a wheelchair

In a story published in the LA Times, WNBA President Donna Orender says, "It was clear emotions were running high. It's unfortunate that when emotions run over the top, something like this had to happen."



Photo by Jerry Mendoza of AP shows Detroit assistant coach Rick Mahorn as he pushes Lisa Leslie of the Sparks to the ground during a scuffle in the closing seconds of the game between the LA and Detroit in Auburn Hills, Michigan last Tuesday.