In Finals, a Complete Shock

Detroit Caps Turnaround by Defeating Defending Champion Los Angeles : Shock 83, Sparks 78

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 16 -- Red, white and blue confetti fluttered through the air and fireworks exploded in what could have been a building without the WNBA this season.

The celebration followed the Detroit Shock's perfect ending to its worst-to-first story.

Ruth Riley scored a career-high 27 points and Detroit beat the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Sparks, 83-78, tonight in the decisive Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. It was the highest-scoring game in the seven-year history of the league finals.

The Shock won a league-best 25 games this season, one year after losing a league-worst 23 with the franchise in danger of being moved or folding.

"It's an amazing story," Riley said. "But honestly, it all starts with Coach."

That coach is Bill Laimbeer.

Yes, the former notorious member of the Detroit Pistons "Bad Boys" in the late 1980s.

Shock President Tom Wilson has said Laimbeer, who took over the team when it was 0-10 last year, saved the franchise.

The game drew a WNBA-record crowd of 22,076, breaking the mark of 19,563 fans who watched New York play at Houston in the 2000 finals.

"The crowd was unbelievable," Laimbeer said.

The Shock is just the third franchise to win the WNBA title. The Houston Comets won the first four and the Sparks the last two.

The Sparks trailed for much of the game, but led 73-70 with 3 minutes 40 seconds left.

Riley, who was selected the MVP of the finals, made a jumper and Deanna Nolan connected on a three-pointer with 53 seconds left to give Detroit the lead for good.

DeLisha Milton said Riley surprised the Sparks, who allowed her to take numerous, uncontested mid-range jumpers. She shot 11 for 19.