Sports
Katie Smith
born 1974 · basketball guard, coach
Hall of Fame guard who won WNBA championships with the Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2008 and was MVP of the 2008 Finals.
- Born
Logan, Ohio
age 52- Detroit years
- 2005–2009
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Smith was already one of the best scorers in women's basketball, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and a star with the Minnesota Lynx, when Minnesota traded her to the Detroit Shock on July 30, 2005. Coached by former Pistons center Bill Laimbeer, the Shock played at the Palace of Auburn Hills and built a tough, physical style that echoed the "Bad Boys". Smith brought veteran leadership and outside shooting alongside Deanna Nolan, Cheryl Ford and Swin Cash. In 2006 the Shock beat Sacramento in the WNBA Finals, with the deciding Game 5 moved to Joe Louis Arena because of a scheduling conflict at the Palace. In 2008 Detroit swept San Antonio for its third title, and Smith was named Finals MVP. She played in Detroit through 2009, the Shock's last season before moving to Tulsa, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.
Highlights
- WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock in 2006 and 2008
- 2008 WNBA Finals MVP
- Played for the Shock 2005–2009
- Three Olympic gold medals
- Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, 2018
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 2005–2009
The Palace of Auburn Hills
Demolished · 1988–2017
The Detroit Shock's home arena; demolished in 2020.
Played here · 2006
Joe Louis Arena
Demolished · 1979–2017
Site of the deciding Game 5 of the 2006 WNBA Finals, won by the Shock; demolished in 2019–2020.