ESPN hosted Detroit Shock head coach Bill Laimbeer in a chat yesterday. One of the questions Laimbeer answered was which six players he protected from expansion team Chicago.

The league does not allow us to divulge the names of protected players. I can say that we will be coring Katie Smith. So having figured that out, the rest of the protected players should be very easy to assume.

Laimbeer commented later that the Shock were looking forward to the play next season of center Ruth Riley, so the Shock will most likely protect Riley, Smith, All-Stars Deanna Nolan, Swin Cash, and Cheryl Ford, and promising young post player Kara Braxton.

Fans discuss who the Chicago Sky should select from Detroit's roster.