USA – Sparks fly as Leslie, Milton-Jones, Parker suspended after Shock brawl

NEW YORK (Olympics) – USA internationals Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker and Delisha Milton-Jones of the Los Angeles Sparks were on Thursday slapped with one-game suspensions for their roles in a brawl that broke out earlier this week against the Detroit Shock.

All three were deemed to have thrown a punch in the fracas which started when Detroit’s Plenette Pierson, after a made free throw by a Shock teammate, initiated contact with Parker and knocked the rookie off balance and to the floor.

Pierson was hit with a four-game ban – the heaviest punishment of all.

Ten 10 players and Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn all received suspensions.

WNBA President Donna Orender said in a statement: "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 behaviour exhibited at the end of Tuesday’s game will not be tolerated.”

The three USA players served their bans on Thursday and missed the clash against Connecticut – the last before the Olympic break.

FIBA