the Atlanta Dream in exchange for LaToya Thomas and the 18th pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft. Trades Free agents Additions Subtractions Season Highlights The Shock season opener resulted in a record-breaking debut for rookie guard Alexis Hornbuckle. Hornbuckle set a Shock record with seven steals to help the Shock beat the Houston Comets on May 17. Deanna Nolan scored a franchise-record 44 points (28 in the fourth quarter and overtime) in a 98-93 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on June 20. Malice at the Palace The Sparks–Shock brawl (also known as The Malice at the Palace II) was an altercation that occurred in a game between the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks on July 21, 2008 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. With 4.2 seconds before the game was officially over, the fighting began on the court after Plenette Pierson made a hard block out after a free throw on Candace Parker. This was the second brawl to occur at the Palace, the other being the Pacers–Pistons brawl. Nancy Lieberman In July, the Detroit Shock signed Nancy Lieberman to a 7-day contract. The 50-year-old Lieberman broke her own record for being the oldest player in the WNBA. Lieberman, a Hall of Famer since 1999, was 39 years old when she played with Phoenix during the league's first year in 1997. The 50-year-old Lieberman played nine minutes and had two assists. One of the assists included a no-look pass in the closing minutes of the Detroit Shock's 79-61 loss to the Houston Comets on July 24. Lieberman made a one-time only appearance in the Shock's first game due to a bench-clearing melee with the Los Angeles Sparks on July 22. Five Shock players were suspended and Cheryl Ford suffered a season-ending injury, prompting coach Bill Laimbeer to offer Lieberman a seven-day contract. Roster Season standings Schedule Regular season |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 1 | May 17 | Houston | 85-66 | Smith (21) | Ford (11) | Ford (4) | Palace of Auburn Hills13,824 | 1-0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 | May 18 | @ Minnesota | 70-84 | Smith (17) | Ford (9) | Nolan (6) | Target Center9,972 | 1-1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 | May 21 | Indiana | 76-71 | Braxton (22) | Ford (10) | Nolan (8) | Palace of Auburn Hills6,842 | 2-1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 | May 23 | @ Atlanta |