Strength in numbers
Point of emphasis
The WNBA has been a 12-team league each of the past two seasons, but Tulsa has never had a player rank higher than 14th in assists. The Shock added point guard help by trading for Temeka Johnson, a former WNBA rookie of the year. Kloppenburg said Johnson and Ivory Latta (who led the Shock in assists each of the past two seasons) are making each other better because they are "feisty competitors" who face off during practices. Kloppenburg said Johnson is very vocal and is kind of like a coach on the floor. "She doesn't turn the ball over," he said. "She will push the ball, which we want to try to do. She is a pass-first point guard, and she can make some open shots too." Kloppenburg said Latta will be able to play off the ball because she shoots so well. "Both can penetrate, and they are good decision makers. I think we are definitely better at that 1-2 spot."Who's standing tall?
Elizabeth Cambage, a 6-foot-8 center, won't trek to Tulsa until she and the Aussies are finished with Olympic duty. Tiffany Jackson is sitting out the season because she is going to be a mom. In the meanwhile, how is the Shock equipped in the "bigs" department? Kloppenburg said 6-foot-4 rookie third-round draft pick Lynetta Kizer is battling and getting better. He said she is pushing 6-5 center Chante Black in practices. "I think they are going to be OK up front," the coach said. Kloppenburg also suggested that 6-4 Kayla Pedersen or 6-3 Glory Johnson could play center, if necessary. "We've got a couple of different lineups and ways we can go. We can go smaller and be more athletic sometimes. That's the way we want to try to play."2012 schedule
5/19 vs. San Antonio 7 p.m.5/22 vs. Phoenix 7 p.m.
5/26 at Washington 6 p.m.
5/29 at Los Angeles 9:30 p.m.
6/1 at Seattle 9 p.m.
6/3 at Phoenix 5 p.m.
6/8 at Chicago 7:30 p.m.
6/9 vs. Minnesota 7 p.m.
6/15 vs. Seattle 7 p.m.
6/17 vs. Phoenix 3 p.m.
6/20 at Los Angeles 9:30 p.m.
6/23 vs. Indiana 7 p.m.
6/26 vs. Los Angeles 7 p.m.
6/29 vs. Atlanta 7 p.m.
7/6 vs. Connecticut 7 p.m.
7/8 vs. Washington 3 p.m.
7/10 vs. Minnesota 11:30 a.m.
7/12 at Minnesota noon
Olympic break
8/17 vs. San Antonio 7 p.m.
8/19 at Minnesota 6 p.m.
8/21 at Connecticut 6 p.m.
8/24 vs. Chicago 7 p.m.
8/25 at San Antonio 7 p.m.
8/28 at Atlanta 6 p.m.
8/30 vs. Los Angeles 7 p.m.
8/31 at Minnesota 7 p.m.
9/6 at Seattle 9 p.m.
9/8 vs. Seattle 7 p.m.
9/12 vs. San Antonio 7 p.m.
9/14 at Phoenix 9 p.m.
9/16 at San Antonio 2 p.m.
9/20 vs. New York 7 p.m.
9/22 at New York 1 p.m.
9/23 at Indiana 4 p.m.
Five to watch
Kayla Pedersen
Last season, Pedersen ranked among the WNBA's most productive rookies in points (fourth), rebounds (third) and assists (fifth). Will she make a significant jump during her "sophomore" season in the league?Glory Johnson
Coach Gary Kloppenburg said on draft day that Johnson reminded him of Tamika Catchings when the reigning league MVP was fresh out of college. More recently, he compared the rookie first-round draft pick to the NBA's Kenneth Faried, who averaged 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds as a Denver Nuggets rookie.Riquna Williams
During her junior season at Miami, Fla., Williams led the ACC and ranked 11th nationally in scoring. The Shock needs scoring, and she's going to have a green light.Temeka Johnson
The point guard position required an upgrade, so Kloppenburg's first personnel move as the Shock's coach was to send backup Andrea Riley to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Johnson. Riley became a mom prior to last season and struggled to regain the form that made her a star at Oklahoma State.Chante Black
Remember her? Black played for the Shock two years ago but missed the 2011 season with a back injury. She averaged a double-double in China during the WNBA offseason.2012 shock roster
No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. From Yrs.11 Chante Black C 6-5 188 Duke 2
8 Elizabeth Cambage C 6-8 215 Australia 1
13 Karima Christmas G-F 6-0 180 Duke 1
5 Scholanda Dorrell G 5-11 162 LSU 6
25 Glory Johnson F 6-3 170 Tennessee R
2 Temeka Johnson G 5-3 142 LSU 7
22 Lynetta Kizer C 6-4 215 Maryland R
21 Jennifer Lacy F 6-3 175 Pepperdine 6
12 Ivory Latta G 5-6 143 N. Carolina 5
10 Jene Morris G 5-9 146 San Diego St. 1
14 Kayla Pedersen F 6-4 190 Stanford 1
1 Riquna Williams G 5-7 165 Miami (Fla.) R
THREE STORYLINES
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