It’s Official, Detroit Shock to Relocate to Tulsa
BASKETBALL ROYALTY: Together promoting a potential WNBA team in Tulsa are, from left, Ashley Paris, WNBA president Donna Orender and Courtney Paris. Courtney and Ashley are former OU basketball stars. The sisters both have spent time in the WNBA and Courtney is still active with the Sacramento Monarchs. They are currently playing basketball in Israel.
DANIEL C. CAMERON for GTR Newspapers
Tulsa Hoops, has officially announced its acceptance into the and that the Detroit Shock will relocate to Tulsa.
In attendance were president Donna Orender and coach and GM of the new Tulsa team Nolan Richardson.
The Detroit Shock will be owned by a group of investors led by Oklahoma businessmen Bill Cameron and David Box, President Donna Orender announced today. The sale and move are pending Board of Governors approval.
The team name will be determined by the citizens of Tulsa.
“We are thrilled to have a team in Tulsa with such a strong championship pedigree, and we look forward to continuing the tradition of success that has been its hallmark,” says Cameron, lead investor and chairman of Tulsa Pro Hoops, . “We are confident this team will make Tulsa proud, both on the court and in the community.”
Cameron is the chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of American Fidelity Assurance Co., one of the nation’s largest private, family-owned life and health insurance companies. Box is founder of The Box Talent Agency, the largest talent agency in Oklahoma.
“The congratulates Bill and David,” says Orender. “We are confident that with their business acumen, passion for the game and commitment to the community, the team will achieve great things in Tulsa. At the same time, we are grateful to the Davidson family, the Pistons organization and the great fans in Detroit for helping us grow the game of women’s basketball.”
“This decision was one of the toughest we have ever made; it was not reached easily,” says Tom Wilson, President, Palace Sports and Entertainment. “The Shock has been a true force in the , but the fact of the matter is that the economic realities have caused us to make this decision. We deeply appreciate what the Shock have meant to Detroit and want to publicly thank the players, coaches and the entire organization for their class, commitment and championships. They represented Detroit well and we are delighted that they have found a new and exciting home in Tulsa. We are sure the fans in Tulsa will quickly embrace these dedicated players.”
During the Shock’s tenure in Detroit, the team appeared in four Finals, capturing three championships (2003, 2006 and 2008). This past season, the team finished 18-16 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Richardson, former head coach of the men’s programs at the University of Arkansas and the University of Tulsa, guided both schools to championships. At Arkansas, he led the Razorbacks to the title in 1994 and a national runner-up finish the following season. Prior to that, Richardson took the Tulsa Golden Hurricane to the National Invitation Tournament title in 1981. He won more than 500 games at Tulsa and Arkansas.
Fans can obtain information about tickets and the team by logging onto www.wnba.com/tulsa, sending an email to tickets@wnbatulsa.com or by calling 1-877-90-HOOPS (46677).
The is a unique global sports property combining competition, sportsmanship, and entertainment value with its status as an icon for social change, achievement, and diversity. Composed of 13 teams, the is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world. The finished the 2009 regular season with a third consecutive year of increased attendance and a second straight season of increased viewership on ESPN2. For the 2009 Finals presented by adidas, average viewership on ESPN2 jumped 76% from a year ago and the five-game series also featured three sellouts plus the highest total attendance figure (82,018) in Finals history.
Through Cares, the is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education.
For more information on the , log on to www.wnba.com.
Updated 10-22-2009
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