Ebony Hoffman News

She doesn't talk about her much, but not a day goes by that Hortensia Ruffins doesn't think of... The Los Angeles Sparks signed four-time WNBA All-Star and Southwood High School legend Alana Beard to a free agent contract, vice president and general manager Penny Toler announced Wednesday.

While Noelle Quinn did make a slightly higher percentage of threes , Marissa Coleman made more than twice as many and is more of a scorer.

On a night when the Shock couldn't generate anything offensively, especially in the frontcourt, Plenette Pierson had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists - all team highs at the time - when she left Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals with 4:26 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Shock proved last season they could win the WNBA championship without one of their top players.

It didn't take the Shock long to have their championship resolve put to the test Saturday at Los Angeles.