Joe Maloof's immediate reaction to Tuesday's WNBA brawl: pride.

"I don't see it in a negative way," said the co-owner of the Monarchs and Kings. "It shows the tremendous competitiveness and fierceness of the WNBA. … I'm not condoning fighting, but I like what it shows – the passion."

Involving the league's superstar rookie Candace Parker, Tuesday's Malice at the Palace, Part II, could represent a turning point for the WNBA – for better or worse. When first-place Detroit locked horns with Los Angeles, more than Sparks flew.

A decision on suspensions and other discipline will be announced today about the same time the Monarchs tip off their annual 11:30 a.m. Camp Day game vs. reigning champion Phoenix. The game, ironically, showcases the WNBA as setting outstanding role models for young people.

"As a fan, it's something you don't want to see," Monarchs co-captain Ticha Penicheiro said Wednesday of the fight. "It's basketball, not wrestling. As a player, that's not the way you want people to view our league."

Reminiscent of the Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons NBA brawl of 2004, this clash – like its predecessor shown live on national TV – got instant reaction.

Said Sporting News' Dan Shanoff: "(The fight) instantly becomes the defining moment in the WNBA. The good news: More people will watch the WNBA today – albeit through video replay of the brawl on the news or YouTube – than ever before. The bad news is that they're tuning in for the brawling, not the balling."

Maloof, who talked at length about the fight with brother Gavin and other family members, saw the exposure as a positive.

"One of the greatest experiences of our lives was when the Monarchs won the (2005) WNBA title," he said. "Maybe now the world will see what we've known for 10 years.

"More people are talking about the WNBA than ever in 10 years. It's on all the sports talk shows. People are making fun of it – and it's not a funny issue. But it also makes people realize what great competitors we've got in women's basketball. They're tremendous athletes and they really want to win."

The Monarchs, who beat the Shock in an intensely physical contest Sunday, were not that surprised. They watched the game live via satellite TV while flying from Atlanta.

"They have their coach's personality," Penicheiro said. "Bill Laimbeer played for the (Detroit Pistons) 'Bad Boys.' (The Shock) are his 'Bad Girls.' They want you to react. L.A. is very competitive, too. Detroit wasn't happy about losing to us and it just erupted."

The brawl's aftermath already has had major implications in tight playoff races. Detroit forward Cheryl Ford, who tried to play peacemaker, will be out for the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.

The WNBA, meanwhile, tries to sort out suspensions and other discipline, which could span across the Olympic break. The Sparks have three games remaining before the monthlong hiatus starts Monday. The Shock has two left. Each team has seven games after the break ends Aug. 28.

"The WNBA is reviewing the incident in its entirety," league spokesman Ron Howard said Wednesday.

League officials planned to interview principals involved in the skirmish. Detroit's Plenette Pierson and assistant coach Rick Mahorn were ejected from the game, as were Los Angeles players Parker and DeLisha Milton-Jones. But other players and coaches also took part and left the bench.

How the incident changes perceptions of Parker – the much-publicized new face of the WNBA – is not yet known. Wednesday, Parker and the Sparks got support from Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

"Candace is going to be a target. She's an incredible player," Bryant told reporters. "I think it's good for her that she didn't back down and I think it's good for her teammates to step in there."

WNBA President Donna Orender, who watched the fight live on TV, was not amused.

"It was clear emotions were running high," she told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday night. "It's unfortunate that when emotions run over the top, something like this had to happen." She declined further comment Wednesday.

Detroit has been involved in two notable past incidents. In 2005, the Shock's Elaine Powell was suspended five games for striking Washington's Coco Miller during a game. Phoenix's Diana Taurasi sat out two games last season for inappropriate conduct toward game officials after a loss to Detroit.

But this brawl took conflicts to a whole new level.

"I haven't seen something like that, I don't think, in my whole career," said Detroit guard Katie Smith, a 10-year veteran who will be teammates with Leslie, Parker and Milton-Jones at the Beijing Olympics.

Smith said she found the situation lamentable but added: "I don't think the publicity hurts. In hockey, people live for the fights.

"Who knows, maybe we'll meet in the WNBA Finals and there will be even more interest."

Call The Bee's Debbie Arrington, (916) 326-5514. The Associated Press contributed to this report.