Editing Detroit Shock (section)

===From worst to champions (2003)===
[[File:Detroit Shock and George W. Bush, May 2004.jpg|thumb|[[George W. Bush|President Bush]] with the Shock in the [[White House Rose Garden]] in May 2004 after they won the [[2003 WNBA Finals]].]]
After massive changes to the roster, Bill Laimbeer predicted before the 2003 season that the Shock would be league champions.<ref name="2003 Shock">{{cite web|title=2003 Detroit Shock Year In Review|url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/shock/history/2003.html|website=WNBA.com|access-date=July 2, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702191840/https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/shock/history/2003.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Carlos|last=Monarrez|title=Top moments in Palace of Auburn Hills history: No. 5|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2017/04/13/palace-of-auburn-hills-top-moments/100411452/|website=Detroit Free Press|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=July 2, 2020|archive-date=May 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529095538/https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2017/04/13/palace-of-auburn-hills-top-moments/100411452/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Shock dominated the East in the regular season, posting a 25–9 record and winning the #1 seed by seven games.<ref name="2003 Shock"/><ref>{{cite web|title=2003 WNBA Season Summary|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2003.html|website=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=July 2, 2020|archive-date=March 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307031615/http://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/years/2003.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the playoffs, the Shock defeated the [[Cleveland Rockers]] 2–1 for their first playoff series win in franchise history.<ref name="2003 Shock"/> In the Conference Finals, the Shock swept the [[Connecticut Sun]] 2–0 to reach the [[2003 WNBA Finals|WNBA Finals]].<ref name="2003 Shock"/> Despite the achievements, the Shock were viewed as huge underdogs to the two-time defending champion [[Los Angeles Sparks]], who were looking for a three-peat.<ref>{{cite web|first=Nancy|last=Lieberman|title=Shock athleticism makes L.A. threepeat tough feat|url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/columns/lieberman/1612061.html|website=ESPN.com|date=September 8, 2003|access-date=July 2, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702192628/https://www.espn.com/wnba/columns/lieberman/1612061.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Shock emerged victorious in the series, winning a thrilling Game 3 83–78. That game drew the largest crowd in WNBA history. [[Ruth Riley]] was named [[WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|WNBA Finals MVP]].<ref name="2003 Shock"/> With the win, the Shock became the first American professional sports team to go from having the worst overall record in the league to being champions in the following season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Worst to First: Shock Win WNBA Title|url=https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/games/20030916/LASDET/recap.html|website=WNBA.com|date=September 16, 2003|access-date=July 1, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702133341/https://www.wnba.com/archive/wnba/games/20030916/LASDET/recap.html|url-status=live}}</ref>