McWilliams-Franklin helps Shock win East, berth in league finals against San Antonio • DETROIT 75, NEW YORK 73: Taj McWilliams-Franklin isn't used to being a role player. She couldn't be enjoying it more.
McWilliams-Franklin scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half to help the Shock reach the WNBA Finals for the third consecutive season with a victory Monday night over the Liberty in Ypsilanti, Mich.
"For the past couple years, I've been on young teams where I've been expected to be the leader for a lot of young players," she said. "It's been a nice change to be on a team where I'm just one of the veterans -- where I have so many great players surrounding me."
Detroit acquired McWilliams-Franklin from Washington during the Olympic break after losing All-Star Cheryl Ford to a season-ending knee injury. "She's a very smart player," Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said of McWilliams-Franklin. "She isn't quick, and she doesn't jump very high, but she knows how to play basketball."
The Shock won the best-of-three Eastern Conference finals and advanced to play San Antonio for the championship. Detroit beat Sacramento in 2006 for its second league title, then lost in five games to Phoenix last year.
Former Lynx player Katie Smith added 16 points for the Shock, while former Gopher Janel McCarville led New York with 21 points.
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