11 suspended after WNBA brawl

NEW YORK, July 24 (UPI) -- Ten players and one coach were suspended Thursday by WNBA officials reacting to an on-court brawl involving the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock.

The fight took place late in Tuesday's game in Detroit that Los Angeles won 84-81. Detroit's Plenette Pierson and the Sparks' Candace Parker were trying to get position when Parker ended up on the floor and Pierson taunted Parker.

Parker then appeared to throw a punch and both benches cleared, video of the episode showed.

As tempers appeared to be cooling Los Angeles's Lisa Leslie fell while being restrained by Shock Assistant Coach Rick Mahorn and DeLisha Milton-Jones hit Mahorn in the back.

The incident led to a series of suspensions. For Detroit, Pierson was suspended for four games, Mahorn for two and Kara Braxton, Tasha Humphrey, Sheri Sam and Elaine Powell for one game each. For Los Angeles, Shannon Bobbitt and Murriel Page were suspended for two games each and Leslie, Minton-Jones and Parker for one game each.

Given the number of players involved the suspensions will be staggered, the WNBA said.