Detroit Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn, centre, received a two-game suspension for his role in Tuesday's altercation. (Jerry S. Mendoza/Associated Press)

The WNBA served up suspensions to members of the Detroit Shock and the Los Angeles Sparks for their roles in an on-court altercation Tuesday at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Shock forward Plenette Pierson received a four-game suspension for escalating the altercation, which began when Sparks rookie forward Candace Parker, the sister of Toronto Raptors guard Anthony Parker, was fouled hard by Shock forward Cheryl Ford, and the two had to be separated.

Pierson then got tangled up with Parker on the next possession, which drew a crowd and kicked off the skirmish.

Detroit's assistant coach Rick Mahorn received a two-game suspension after he appeared to shove Sparks centre Lisa Leslie to the floor. He was subsequently punched in the back by forward DeLisha Milton-Jones. Leslie and Milton-Jones each received one-game suspensions.

"As a team, we're incensed that Rick Mahorn was suspended," Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said in a telephone interview from Houston, where the Shock were scheduled to play the Comets. "He was trying to be a peacemaker and now he's being thrown under the bus."

Sparks players Shannon Bobbitt and Murriel Page were each suspended for two games for taking part in the fracas. Other players who received a one-game suspension were Kara Braxton, Tasha Humphry, Elaine Powell and Sheri Sam of the Shock, while the Sparks' Parker earned a one-game suspension.

"The WNBA and its players represent all that is good about sports: passion, hard work and sacrifice," WNBA president Donna Orender said in a statement released by the league. "On a nightly basis our players display extraordinary skill, athleticism and competitive fire.

"The events Tuesday, however, were inexcusable and in no way indicative of what the league stands for. We hold our players to a very high standard and these suspensions should serve notice that the behaviour exhibited at the end of Tuesday's game will not be tolerated."

In an effort to allow the Shock and Sparks to have at least eight players in uniform for upcoming games, the players will have their suspensions staggered and follow alphabetical order.

Shock make surprising addition

After Ford suffered a season-ending knee injury while trying to restrain Pierson during the confrontation, the Shock lived up to their moniker as they announced that 50-year-old Nancy Lieberman would be added to the roster on a seven-day contract.

Lieberman, who was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996, served as the Shock's general manager and head coach for three seasons starting in 1998. She previously held the distinction as the WNBA's oldest player while playing with the Phoenix Mercury at the age of 39 during the league's inaugural season in 1997.

Lieberman has most recently been serving as an analyst with ESPN, but she made an impression on Laimbeer when she participated in drills at last year's WNBA all-star game.

Lieberman is expected to be on the roster for Detroit's game against Houston on Thursday night.

With files from the Associated Press