WNBA PLAYOFFS Shock seeks to complete worst-to-first run tonight

Detroit hosts Los Angeles in Game 3 of the final series.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- Swin Cash wants the perfect ending to the Detroit Shock's worst-to-first story.
One season after the franchise was in danger of moving -- or folding -- Cash wants to beat the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Sparks in the decisive Game 3 of the WNBA Finals tonight.
"I can taste it. That's how real this is to me right now," Cash said. "We know for 40 minutes we're going to have to bang, bruise and fight because Los Angeles is not going to give up its title easy.
"We're the new kids on the block and they're the champions, but none of that matters at this point."
Complete turnaround
Detroit, which won an WNBA-best 25 games this season, one year after losing a league-worst 23, forced the Sparks to stay in suburban Detroit for two more days after winning Game 2.
Deanna Nolan's two free throws with 12 seconds remaining gave the Shock a 62-61 victory and evened the series.
"This is something we won't forget," Los Angeles' DeLisha Milton said. "We might set it aside for the moment because the greater goal is to win the next game."
The Sparks led Sunday by four points with 1:28 remaining, after trailing by 19 late in the first half, but they couldn't make the shots or stops needed to win.
"We have to come out and put together two good halves," Sparks' Lisa Leslie said. "It's obvious that we can beat this team."
Los Angeles beat Detroit 75-63 in Game 1 on Friday in Los Angeles.
Sparks coach Michael Cooper doesn't expect much to change tonight. He thinks Detroit will try to run, while the Sparks try to slow the pace of the game.
"I think we both know what our best shot looks like," Cooper said. "They felt ours' in L.A., and we got theirs' here. I think it's a case now of which team wants it the most. You are going to have to scuffle."
Coaches have been here before
Cooper won NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Shock coach Bill Laimbeer won titles with the Detroit Pistons. They said the intensity of Game 2 reminded them of some of their own experiences in the playoffs.
But both are trying to step out of the spotlight because they want their players to be the focus.