WNBA Announces Shock-Sparks Suspensions

Sparks and Beijing teammates Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker were each suspended for one game for their roles in the fracas. (AP)

The WNBA is suspending so many people from Tuesday's incident that the players will have to serve them at different times to play out tonight's games. In all, 10 players -- five from the Shock and five from the Sparks -- along with Detroit assistant coach Rick Mahorn were suspended for a grand total of 17 games.

WNBA President Donna Orender said in the release:

"The WNBA and its players represent all that is good about sports: passion, hard work and sacrifice. On a nightly basis our players display extraordinary skill, athleticism and competitive fire. The events Tuesday, however, were inexcusable and in no way indicative of what the league stands for. We hold our players to a very high standard and these suspensions should serve notice that the behavior exhibited at the end of Tuesday's game will not be tolerated."

Suspended were:

• Shock forward Plenette Pierson has been suspended for four games for her actions that initiated and escalated the altercation.
• Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn has been suspended for two games for escalating the altercation.
• Shock center Kara Braxton has been suspended for one game for leaving the area of the bench during an on-court altercation.
• Shock forward Tasha Humphrey has been suspended for one game for leaving the area of the bench during an on-court altercation.
• Shock guard Elaine Powell has been suspended for one game for leaving the area of the bench during an on-court altercation.
• Shock forward Sheri Sam has been suspended for one game for leaving the area of the bench during an on-court altercation.
• Sparks guard Shannon Bobbitt has been suspended for two games for leaving the area of the bench and becoming physically involved in an on-court altercation.
• Sparks forward Murriel Page has been suspended for two games for leaving the area of the bench and becoming physically involved in an on-court altercation.
• Sparks center Lisa Leslie has been suspended for one game for throwing a punch.
• Sparks forward DeLisha Milton-Jones has been suspended for one game for throwing a punch.
• Sparks forward Candace Parker has been suspended for one game for throwing a punch.

The suspensions will be staggered in order to allow enough players to suit up according to league rules. Pierson, Mahorn, Braxton and Humphrey will begin with tonight's game at Houston. Sam will sit out the July 27 game against San Antonio. Powell is injured, but will serve her suspension when she's well.

Bobbitt, Leslie, Milton-Jones and Parker will serve their suspensions tonight. Page will wait until July 25 when the Sparks visit New York.

Did the league get it right? And is Detroit's signing of 50-year-old ESPN analyst Nancy Lieberman a smart roster move or a publicity stunt?