Shock season opens Saturday

 The countdown clock is ticking down towards the Tulsa Shock's inaugural season opener against the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday night at the BOK Center. The Shock finally got the chance to take a break from beating and banging on each other and go to battle with another WNBA team Sunday when they played host to a pre-season game with the Seattle Storm. The game, which was closed to the public, served as a final "dress rehearsal" for the team and game day staff.

"We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there, but I was very proud of the young ladies today," said head coach Nolan Richardson after Sunday's 90-80 win over the Storm. 

Five Shock players scored in double digits as center Kara Braxton and forward Amber Holt led the team with 14 points each. Tulsa shot 44 percent from the field and out rebounded Seattle 9-8. The Shock has just three more days to shake off the cob webs and perfect what has been described as Richardson's "high-octane" style of play. 

"I think we were a little sloppy and messy out there, but that's going to take time because it's a new team," said Braxton. "We were playing against each other and its a whole new system, but I'm glad we just came out with a W. We're going to pick up things and work together throughout the season.

Team officials announced late last week that only 700 tickets remain for Saturday's game. Tickets are on sale online, at the BOK Center box office or by calling 1-877-90-HOOPS.

Tulsa Today will keep you posted on the latest WNBA news throughout the Shock's inaugural season.

MAKING AN IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY

The Shock is not waiting until the season starts to become involved in the Tulsa community. Shock players, coaches and office staff will volunteer at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon.They will be helping to sort and re-box 80,000 plus pounds of food that was donated last Saturday during the Stamp out Hunger food drive.

During the week of May 9 to May 15 all WNBA teams will be joining community members and partners in an effort to support health, education and environmental awareness programs in their respective areas. "We are honord as an organization to participate in this wonderful WNBA and community initiative," said Shock President Steve Swetoha. "This will be a great opportunity for our staff to give back to the wonderful community of Tulsa that has embraced and supported us over the past year.

"We're very excited that the Tulsa Shock has chosen the food bank as it's charity of choice for service this week," said Sara Waggoner, the executive director of the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. "We know that they will bring a new energy to our mission of fighting hunger, feeding hope.