AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP)—The Detroit Shock announced Friday they have matched the offer sheet Kara Braxton signed with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Coach Bill Laimbeer said in a release that Detroit’s philosophy “is not to allow other teams to steal our players away with money.”

Details of the Jackson, Mich., native’s contract were not released.

The 24-year-old former Georgia star was selected by Detroit with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2005 WNBA draft. She has averaged of 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 131 games.

Braxton averaged 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 33 games last season, helping the Shock win their third WNBA championship, and second in three years
By re-signing Braxton, the Shock have locked up most of their salary cap space in retaining the core of the 2008 championship team. Barring a trade, they likely won’t have the flexibility for another major addition in 2009.

“We have no plans on the horizon for any free agents,” Laimbeer said Friday. “We have a lot of very high-priced players and we have a lot of very good players. I think we have a very good basketball team as we have it.”

Whew! I don't want to see her in a Sparks uniform. Imagine her, Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker all at the same time.