The WNBA is the Women's National Basketball Association. 2008 WNBA training camps opened April 20. The regular season began May 17. The 2008 WNBA rookie minimum salary is $34,500.. The current WNBA maximum salary is $95,000. Hit this page for a great daily WNBA basketball news roundup, plus exclusive player interviews, WNBA rumors and links, and more.

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WNBA PLAYOFFS STANDINGS:

WNBA FINALS: Shock 3, Silver Stars 0
Detroit Shock win 2008 WNBA championship

EAST: Conf Finals: Shock 2, Liberty 1 First Round: Shock 2, Fever 1 Libery 2, Sun 1

WEST: Conf Finals: S.Stars 2, Sparks 1 First Round: S.Stars 2, Monarchs 1 Sparks 2, Storm 1

WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, OCT 6

Detroit Shock are champs for third time in 6 years -- The AP reports: A trade for proven veteran Taj McWilliams-Franklin during the Olympic break was just what Detroit needed. It won its last five games of the regular season and six of seven after the monthlong hiatus and carried the momentum into the playoffs. And McWilliams-Franklin, who had 13 points in the Game 3 clincher, was a huge part of the team’s championship drive. On Sunday, she keyed a fourth-quarter run that put the game out of reach. The Shock led 49-45 after three periods, and they extended it to 55-47 on McWilliams-Franklin’s one-hander off the glass 3 minutes into the fourth. She hit a pair of free throws less than a minute later to give the Shock their first double-digit lead of the game... Detroit became the second team in league history to win a third championship. Only the Houston Comets, who won the first four (1997-2000), have more. Los Angeles (2001, 2002) is the only other team with more than one... The 2008 finals MVP was Katie Smith, who had a team-high 18 points on Sunday, including 11 in the fourth quarter... Top scorer Becky Hammon was held in check for much of the series and was a non-factor in Game 3, managing only 5 points on 1-for-10 shooting. Center Ann Wauters led San Antonio with 19 points, and forward Sophia Young added 15.

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WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SUNDAY, OCT 5

Detroit 76, San Antonio 60 -- The AP reports: With Deanna Nolan not having her best series, the Detroit Shock relied upon Katie Smith, who helped deliver another championship. En route to being name Most Valuable Player, Smith scored 18 points as the Shock completed a sweep of the San Antonio Silver Stars to win their third title in six seasons with a 76-60 victory in Game Three of the WNBA Finals on Sunday afternoon... Smith, who combined to score 47 points on 17-of-33 shooting in the first two contests, was 6-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-2 from the arc in this one for Detroit, which outscored San Antonio, 46-26, in the second half to cement the victory... Becky Hammon scored five points on just 1-of-10 shooting for the Silver Stars, who did not put forth a good performance in their first trip to the championship series in franchise history.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SATURDAY, OCT 4

Detroit 69, San Antonio 61 -- The AP reports: It will be a happy trip back to Ypsilanti, Michigan for Katie Smith and the Detroit Shock. Smith had 22 points and six assists as the Shock took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five WNBA Finals with a 69-61 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Friday. Deanna Nolan and Kara Braxton scored 12 points apiece for Detroit, which became the first team to win both Games One and Two on the road since the league expanded the Finals to its current best-of-five format in 2005... Becky Hammon scored 24 points for San Antonio, which has put forth a disappointing performance in its first trip to the championship series. The Silver Stars had the best season in franchise history, which included a league-best 24-10 regular-season record and a 14-0 mark against Eastern Conference opponents.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR FRIDAY, OCT 3

Sparks’ Parker wins WNBA MVP, rookie of the year -- The AP reports: Candace Parker received the WNBA’s most valuable player award Friday, becoming the first player to win the award along with the rookie of the year honors. The Los Angeles star was unanimously selected rookie of the year... Parker edged Connecticut’s Lindsay Whalen and Seattle’s Sue Bird in the MVP race... The all-rookie team, selected by league coaches, included Parker, Minnesota’s Candice Wiggins and Nicky Anosike, Chicago’s Sylvia Fowles, Houston’s Matee Ajavon and Connecticut’s Amber Holt. Ajavon and Holt tied for the fifth spot on the team.

Leslie, Parker headline WNBA first team -- Ticker reports: Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie and forward Candace Parker highlight the WNBA’s All-First Team which was named Friday. Connecticut Sun guard Lindsay Whalen, Phoenix Mercury guard-forward Diana Taurasi and San Antonio Silver Stars forward Sophia Young also were named to the team.

Parker headlines All-Rookie Team -- Ticker reports: Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker headlined the WNBA’s All-Rookie Team which was announced Friday... Joining Parker on the All-Rookie Team were Minnesota Lynx guard Candace Wiggins, Lynx center Nicky Anosike, Chicago Sky center Sylvia Fowles, Houston Comets guard Matee Ajavon and Connecticut Sun forward Amber Holt. Ajavon and Holt tied for the fifth spot on the team and both were rewarded with a selection.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, OCT 2

Shock beat Silver Stars 77-69 in Game 1 of finals -- The AP reports: Someone finally figured out how to stop Deanna Nolan. Katie Smith and Taj McWilliams-Franklin were more than enough to help the Detroit Shock make up for it. Smith scored 25 points and McWilliams-Franklin had 24, and they helped Detroit take a first step toward reclaiming the WNBA title by leading the Shock to a 77-69 win over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the WNBA finals... The Silver Stars, who lost to an Eastern Conference team for the first time this season after 14 wins, were led by Sophia Young’s 21 points and 16 from Ann Wauters. San Antonio’s Becky Hammon, who scored 35 points in the decisive Game 3 of the Western Conference finals on Sunday, scored 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting in Game 1... Detroit didn’t get its first lead until 2:19 into the second quarter when Smith made two free throws to go up 21-20 before the Shock outscored San Antonio 21-12 the rest of the half for the double-digit margin. The Silver Stars went cold, shooting 4-of-16 in the second quarter. San Antonio played without key reserves Helen Darling and Edwige Lawson-Wade. Darling strained her right calf and Lawson-Wade sprained her right ankle during Saturday’s Game 2 victory over Los Angeles in the Western Conference semifinals.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: For Detroit, Katie Smith (8-of-17) had 25 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Taj McWilliams-Franklin (11-of-16) had 24 points and 7 rebounds. Deanna Nolan (just 5-of-16) had 10 points and 4 assists. Kara Braxton (5-of-9) had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Alexis Hornbuckle shot badly but had 5 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks... For San Antonio, Sophia Young (just 8-of-21) had 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Ann Wauters (6-of-13) had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. Becky Hammon (4-of-10) had 13 points, 5 assists, 2 steals but 4 turnovers. Vickie Johnson (5-of-6) had 10 points and 5 rebounds... Detroit shot 47.1%, San Antonio 42.9%. Detroit hit 4-of-14 three-pointers, San Antonio an awful 1-of-12. Detroit grabbed a few more rebounds and dished a few more assists.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, OCT 1

Detroit at San Antonio -- The AP reports: Detroit’s pursuit of a third title begins Wednesday in Game 1 of the WNBA finals against the San Antonio Silver Stars. The Shock already share a couple of distinctions with the Comets—four trips to the finals overall and streaks of three straight appearances in the league’s 11-year history. Houston won the first four league championships from 1997-2000. “We’re where we expected to be—in the finals,” Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said. “That’s who we are. That’s all we talk about. Anything else is a lost season for us.” That’s not quite the standard for the Silver Stars, who were 1.3 seconds away from elimination in the Western Conference finals against Los Angeles. Down 1-0 in the series and 66-65 in Game 2, San Antonio forced a deciding game on Sophia Young’s 14-foot turnaround shot at the buzzer. The Silver Stars won the series a day later.

The AP reports: The Silver Stars (24-10) had the league’s best record thanks in part to going 14-0 against the East, including two wins over the Shock. Still, the playoff focus in the West stayed with Los Angeles, the preseason favorite.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR TUESDAY, SEPT 30

Detroit 75, New York 73 -- Ticker reports: Veteran forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half as the Detroit Shock held off the New York Liberty, 75-73, in the decisive Game Three of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday. Deanna Nolan scored 21 points and Katie Smith added 16 for Detroit, which returned to the WNBA Finals for the third straight year. The Shock will square off with the San Antonio Silver Stars, who edged the Los Angeles Sparks in Game Three of the Western Conference finals on Sunday... Janel McCarville scored 21 points for New York, which managed just eight points in the first quarter.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, SEPT 29

San Antonio 76, Los Angeles 72 -- Ticker reports: Becky Hammon scored 35 points and nailed four crucial free throws down the stretch as the Silver Stars held on for a 76-72 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in Game Three of the Western Conference finals. The hero in Game One, Sophia Young scored 18 points for the Silver Stars, who erased a five-point lead with 1:57 left... Milton-Jones and Candace Parker scored 16 points for Los Angeles.

New York at Detroit -- STATS reports: Playing for another WNBA title has been the ultimate goal for the Detroit Shock this season. But if they plan on challenging for the championship for a third consecutive year, they must first determine their fate in the conference finals. The Shock hope to eliminate the New York Liberty and earn another chance at the league’s crown on Monday, when the teams meet in the decisive Game 3 of the East finals at Eastern Michigan University... Meanwhile, New York is trying to advance to the league finals for the fifth time in team history and make its first such appearance since 2002 - the last time it won the conference crown. Shameka Christon scored 16 points and Janel McCarville added nine, but New York managed just three shots in the fourth quarter - all 3-pointers.

Detroit 64, New York 55 -- Ticker reports: Deanna Nolan scored nine of her 22 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Shock to a season-saving 64-55 victory over the New York Liberty in Sunday’s Game Two of the Eastern Conference finals. Katie Smith scored 11 points for Shock, who staved off elimination with the triumph and will host the decisive third game of the series Monday... Detroit outscored New York, 25-9, in the fourth quarter to erase a seven-point deficit entering the final period... Shameka Christon scored 16 points for New York.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SUNDAY, SEPT 28

Young’s buzzer-beater saves Silver Stars -- The AP reports: Sophia Young delivered with a 14-foot turnaround shot at the buzzer to lift the Silver Stars to a 67-66 win over the Los Angeles Sparks Saturday, and forced a deciding game 3 in the Western Conference Finals... Young finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead San Antonio... Candace Parker led Los Angeles with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Lisa Leslie, who scored 22 points in game 1, had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Milton-Jones finished with 14 points... Becky Hammon added 19 points and Ann Wauters had 11 as San Antonio is looking for its first trip to the finals. They advanced to the Western Conference finals last year, but lost to the eventual champions, the Phoenix Mercury.

New York 60, Detroit 56 -- Ticker reports: Janel McCarville scored 17 points and Shameka Christon added 11 and 11 rebounds as the New York Liberty defeated the Detroit Shock, 60-56, in Game One of the Eastern Conference finals on Friday... Deanna Nolan, who led the Shock with 22 points, got a good look from the top of the arc, but her shot bounced off the front rim and the loose ball ended up going out of bounds to the Liberty... New York used a 12-1 run - keyed by five points from Ashley Battle - to take a 45-43 edge with 5:29 to play.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SATURDAY, SEPT 27

-- Ticker reports: Janel McCarville scored 17 points and Shameka Christon added 11 and 11 rebounds as the New York Liberty defeated the Detroit Shock, 60-56, in Game One of the Eastern Conference finals on Friday... Deanna Nolan, who led the Shock with 22 points, got a good look from the top of the arc, but her shot bounced off the front rim and the loose ball ended up going out of bounds to the Liberty... New York used a 12-1 run - keyed by five points from Ashley Battle - to take a 45-43 edge with 5:29 to play.

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WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, SEPT 25

The AP reports: Lauren Jackson’s post-Olympics surgery on her ankle last month effectively doomed the Storm, leaving them without the low-post scorer and rebounder who has often dominated the league. She watched helplessly Tuesday, nervously pacing the bench area in a black sweater. Sue Bird said she expects her roommate and teammate in Russia during the European season will be with her when their team begins play there Oct. 16, after Jackson goes home to Australia for two weeks. But will Jackson, a two-time WNBA MVP, be back in Seattle in 2009? “I hope so,” Bird said, smiling. Seattle cannot keep Jackson by designating her its core player, giving the club exclusive negotiating rights to her in exchange for a guaranteed, one-year contract at the league’s maximum salary.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPT 24

Shock looking for 3rd straight trip to WNBA finals -- The AP reports: Detroit and Los Angeles opened the season as the popular picks to reach the WNBA finals, and both teams are now one step away from fulfilling those expectations. The Shock, looking for their third straight trip to the championship round, closed the season with six wins in their last seven games to earn the Eastern Conference’s top seed, and then beat Indiana in the first round. Detroit led 41-10 midway through the second quarter through the decisive Game 3 and cruised to an easy victory. “We executed brilliantly and the players deserve all the credit in the world,” Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said. “The performance we put on is the quality of a championship-caliber team.”

San Antonio at Los Angeles -- The AP reports: The San Antonio Silver Stars are one step away from the franchise’s first trip to the WNBA finals, and after going 14-0 against the Eastern Conference, they’d have to be rather confident heading into a potential championship series. To get there, though, they’ll have to figure out a way to stop Candace Parker. That hasn’t been an easy task for the Silver Stars, who will open the best-of-three Western Conference finals on the road Thursday against the Los Angeles Sparks and their dazzling rookie. San Antonio breezed through its games against the East this season without a loss, giving it the league’s best record and home-court advantage throughout the West playoffs. The Silver Stars were a pedestrian 10-10 within their conference, however, including a 2-2 mark against the Sparks with the home team winning each game.

Los Angeles 71, Seattle 64 -- Ticker reports: Despite a furious finish, the Los Angeles Sparks were able to send the Seattle Storm packing early once again. Candace Parker scored 19 points and Lisa Leslie added 15 before fouling out in the final minutes as the Sparks advanced to the Western Conference finals with a 71-64 victory over the Storm in a decisive Game Three of their conference semifinal series on Tuesday night... Tanisha Wright scored 20 points and Camille Little added 17 for the Storm, who played without former league MVP Lauren Jackson due to ankle surgery.

Detroit 80, Indiana 61 -- Ticker reports: Deanna Nolan scored 21 points and Katie Smith added 15 as the Shock got off to a quick start and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the third straight season with an 80-61 victory over the Indiana Fever in the decisive Game Three of their semifinal series... After a demoralizing first half, Indiana outscored Detroit, 24-11, in the third quarter to cut its deficit to 17 entering the final period but could not make much more of a push. Tammy Sutton-Brown scored 20 points for the Fever.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR TUESDAY, SEPT 23

San Antonio 86, Sacramento 81 (ot) -- Ticker reports: After failing to close out them at home over the weekend, the Silver Stars recovered on Monday night and survived a furious rally by the Sacramento Monarchs to advance to the Western Conference finals with an 86-81 overtime victory... The Monarchs scored the last seven points of regulation to send the game into overtime, but Sophia Young’s gritty play propelled the top-seeded Silver Stars to victory. Young scored seven of her 27 points in the extra period - all from the foul line - and grabbed a pivotal defensive board to help seal it... Nicole Powell led Sacramento with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, while Kara Lawson added 12 points and seven assists. San Antonio center Ann Wauters had 15 points and 12 boards.

Liberty beat Sun to advance to conference finals -- The AP reports: Shameka Christon hit a 3-pointer to regain the lead, rookie Essence Carson had a driving layup to stretch New York’s advantage to three points, and the Liberty beat the Connecticut Sun 66-62 Monday night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals... Carson finished scored 15 points, Christon had 13, and Janel McCarville added 12 points and seven rebounds to help the Liberty win a postseason series for the first time since 2004. New York beat Detroit in the first round that year before getting swept by Connecticut... Lindsay Whalen scored 19 points and Asjha Jones added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Sun. The Liberty shot 51 percent in the first half and finished at 47 percent (27-for-57) for the game. The Sun finished at 34 percent (25-for-74), including 3-for-20 on 3-pointers.

Hoffman’s Game 2 technical upgraded to flagrant -- The AP reports: The technical foul Indiana’s Ebony Hoffman received in Game 2 of the Fever’s first-round series against Detroit was upgraded to a flagrant foul by the WNBA on Monday. Hoffman was also fined for the play in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game in which the Shock’s Plenette Pierson was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury that is expected to rule her out of Game 3.

Mystics fire GM Hargrove after 10-24 season -- The AP reports: Washington Mystics general manager Linda Hargrove was fired Monday after a 10-24 season that ended with a nine-game losing streak. The Mystics missed the playoffs the past two years, and team president Sheila Johnson had promised changes, saying last month, “We cannot continue on this path.” Hargrove became the Mystics’ GM before the 2005 season. She was a scout and an assistant coach with the team before that.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, SEPT 22

Seattle 64, Los Angeles 50 -- Ticker reports: Sue Bird scored 20 points and Sheryl Swoopes added 16 as the Storm staved off elimination with a 64-50 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in Game Two of their Western Conference semifinals series on Sunday night... DeLisha Milton-Jones and Lisa Leslie scored 11 points apiece for the Sparks.

Indiana 89, Detroit 82 (ot) -- Ticker reports: Tamika Catchings had 27 points and 10 rebounds as the Fever held off the Shock, 89-82, in overtime in Game Two of their Eastern Conference semifinal series at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday... Facing elimination, the fourth-seeded Fever also got 15 points and 12 rebounds from Ebony Hoffman en route to knocking off a team that went 14-3 at home in the regular season, including 10-0 against Eastern Conference opponents. Detroit guard Deanna Nolan made a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 75-75 and force overtime, when the Fever would come alive... Katie Smith scored 15 points and Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 14 to pace Detroit, which erased a nine-point deficit going into the fourth quarter.

The AP reports: After winning Game 1 of their playoff series on the road, the top-seeded San Antonio Silver Stars may have figured they’d cruise past the Sacramento Monarchs and into the Western Conference finals. Instead, their season will be on the line in a decisive Game 3 on Monday, when they’ll look to rebound from a lopsided loss at home and eliminate the Monarchs in the first round for the second straight year. The Silver Stars’ 85-78 win at Sacramento on Thursday appeared to pave their path to the next round, as they needed just one win at home to advance. San Antonio, which had the best overall record in the WNBA in the regular season, went 15-2 at the AT&T Center.

The AP reports: The Connecticut Sun haven’t made things easy for themselves in their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the New York Liberty. Even if they haven’t played their best, they’re still alive heading into a decisive Game 3. A spot in the conference finals will be on the line Monday at Mohegan Sun Arena, where the Sun will try to extend the Liberty’s trouble advancing past the first round. Connecticut fell behind by 13 points after the first quarter of Game 1 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden and could never recover, losing 72-63. That left the Sun with a pair of must-win games at home if they hoped to advance to the East finals for the fifth time in six years.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SUNDAY, SEPT 21

Sacramento 84, San Antonio 67 -- The AP reports: Crystal Kelly scored 19 points and Nicole Powell had 17 as the Sacramento Monarchs surprisingly cruised to an 84-67 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars in Game Two of the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday. Ticha Penicheiro had 12 points and nine assists for the Monarchs, who shot 59 percent (34-of-58) from the field... Becky Hammon scored 14 points to lead San Antonio, which made just 4-of-16 from the arc.

Sun force decisive Game 3 against Liberty -- The AP reports: Asjha Jones scored 16 points and the Connecticut Sun forced a decisive Game 3 against the New York Liberty with a 73-70 victory Saturday night. Tamika Whitmore made two free throws in the final 30 seconds to help the Sun withstand a New York rally in the fourth period. The first-round Eastern Conference series will be settled Monday night in Connecticut. Lindsay Whalen had 15 points for Connecticut and Svetlana Abrosimova had 12. Loree Moore led New York with 16 points, and Janel McCarville and Shameka Christon had 11 apiece.

Sun coach Thibault named WNBA Coach of the Year -- Ticker reports: Mike Thibault of the Connecticut Sun won the WNBA Coach of Year Award, the league announced Saturday. Thibault, who guided the Sun to the second seed in the Eastern Conference this season, also won the award in 2006. He became the third coach to claim the honor multiple times... San Antonio Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes, who won the award in 2001 and 2007, finished second in the voting, which was tallied by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

The AP reports: After winning their playoff opener on the road, all the Detroit Shock have to do to advance to another Eastern Conference finals is claim one more victory where no other East team could in 2008. The top-seeded Shock will look to eliminate the Indiana Fever from the postseason for the third straight year on Sunday when the teams face off in Game 2 of their first-round series at the Palace of Auburn Hills. It seemed that for fourth-seeded Indiana to have any chance of knocking off the Shock, it would have to defend its home court in the series opener. Detroit, though, built a 10-point halftime lead and held on for an 81-72 win on Friday.

The AP reports: The Los Angeles Sparks knew they’d have to protect their home court in Game 1 to have a realistic chance of winning their playoff series against the Seattle Storm. They did that without much of a problem - but winning in Seattle could be a much tougher task. The Sparks will get their first chance to close out the Storm and become just the second team to win at KeyArena this season on Sunday as the teams play Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series. Los Angeles came into the playoffs having beaten Seattle twice this season at Staples Center, but having lost four straight to the Storm on the road by an average of 17.3 points dating to their 2006 first-round series.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, SEPT 15

Houston has 18 in Lynx’s win at Washington -- The AP reports: Charde Houston scored 18 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 96-70 win over the Washington Mystics in both teams’ season finale on Sunday. Anna DeForge added 16 points for the Lynx while Nicky Anosike, Lindsey Harding and LaToya Thomas each had 13... Minnesota (16-18) was playing without its two leading scorers Seimone Augustus and Candice Wiggins... Alana Beard scored all of her team-high 17 points in the second half to lead Washington (10-24), which finished the season with a nine-game losing streak. Tasha Humphrey added 11.

Sparks beat Storm 65-48 in WNBA playoff preview -- The AP reports: With most of the big names playing limited minutes or injured, Seattle and Los Angeles hardly looked like a couple of WNBA playoff-bound teams. Marie Ferdinand-Harris scored 14 points, DeLisha Milton-Jones added 12 and the Sparks led all the way in beating the Storm 65-48 Sunday, when Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker played season-low minutes... Starters Sue Bird and Yolanda Griffith played just three minutes each for the Storm, who shot 33.9 percent from the floor, barely better than their season low of 32.8 percent at Houston on June 14.

Nolan, Pierson lead Shock past Liberty in finale -- The AP reports: The Detroit Shock’s main focus was to avoid injuries in its season finale against the New York Liberty. They achieved that goal and came away with their fifth straight victory. Deanna Nolan and Plenette Pierson scored 11 points each to lead Detroit to a 61-59 win Sunday... Erlana Larkins scored 13 points and Lisa Willis added 12 for New York (19-15). Cathrine Kraayeveld had nine points for the Liberty, who have lost three of four.

Tina Thompson leads Comets past Sky 79-76 -- The AP reports: Tina Thompson had 26 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks and the Houston Comets beat the Chicago Sky 79-76 on Sunday. Mistie Williams had 13 points and nine rebounds for Houston (16-17), which won its second straight after dropping its previous five. Reneeka Hodges and Tamecka Dixon each added 12 points for the Comets, who improved to 4-13 on the road... Candice Dupree scored 20 for the Sky (12-22), who finished their season by losing for the fifth time in six games. Jia Perkins scored 13 and Cathy Joens added 12 for Chicago.

Fever top Mercury 103-89, set team scoring record -- The AP reports: Tammy Sutton-Brown scored a career-high 26 points and the Indiana Fever set a franchise scoring record in a 103-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury in the regular-season finale for both teams on Sunday... Katie Douglas scored 24 points, Ebony Hoffman added 20 with a career-high four 3-pointers, and Tamika Catchings had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Fever. Cappie Pondexter scored 23 points and Diana Taurasi added 19 for the Mercury (16-18).


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR FRIDAY, SEPT 12

Storm’s Bird, Sun’s Whalen top MVP candidates -- The AP reports: Without a favorite for the WNBA’s MVP, a point guard may finally win the league’s top award. San Antonio’s Becky Hammon came close last year, finishing second as Seattle forward Lauren Jackson earned her second MVP honor. And while Hammon merits consideration again this year, most of the buzz has centered around the Storm’s Sue Bird and Connecticut’s Lindsay Whalen... In her fifth season, Whalen has become the Sun’s marquee player after losing several veterans—Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Katie Douglas to trades, and Nykesha Sales to injuries—over the last two years. However, Asjha Jones (17.0 points, 6.1 rebounds) has stepped up her production after moving into the starting lineup last year, and Tamika Whitmore (12.6 points, 4.8 rebounds) has been solid after coming over in the trade that sent Douglas to Indiana in the offseason... There are plenty of other players who’ve had great seasons, including Diana Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter, Candace Parker and Seimone Augustus. However, none of their teams stood out.

Dream rally for 83-72 victory over Sparks -- The AP reports: Iziane Castro Marques scored 15 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter as the Atlanta Dream rallied for a 83-72 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night, snapping a 10-game losing streak. Betty Lennox added 21 points and Ivory Latta tied a career best with 10 assists for the expansion Dream (4-29), who avoided breaking the WNBA record for losses in a season. Atlanta closes the season Friday night at Seattle... Candace Parker had 23 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four blocks for the Sparks (19-14). DeLisha Milton-Jones added 21 points and Lisa Leslie had 16 points and nine rebounds.

Silver Stars beat Sun to clinch 1st place in West -- The AP reports: The San Antonio Silver Stars secured the best record in the WNBA thanks to one of their youngest stars. Sophia Young scored 24 points to lead the San Antonio Silver Stars to a 78-74 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Thursday night, clinching home-court advantage through the playoffs... Ann Wauters and Becky Hammon added 17 points each for the Silver Stars (23-10), while Erin Buescher scored 11. Wauters also had 15 rebounds as San Antonio finished a perfect 14-0 against the Eastern Conference.

Sutton-Brown’s 16 points lead Fever past Liberty -- The AP reports: The Indiana Fever didn’t consider Thursday night’s game against New York as being meaningless. Despite being locked into the fourth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, Indiana jumped out to a big early lead and cruised to a 74-59 victory over the Liberty. Tammy Sutton-Brown scored 16 points to lead the Fever (16-17), who will face top-seeded Detroit in the first round of the postseason next week. Indiana finishes the regular season at home against Phoenix on Sunday... Third-place New York (18-14) fell 2 1/2 games behind Detroit (21-12) and remained 1 1/2 games behind second-place Connecticut. The Liberty play at Chicago on Friday and host Detroit on Sunday.

Nolan, Braxton help Shock beat Mystics 78-66 -- The AP reports: Bill Laimbeer took care of the first of his annual goals Thursday night. Every year, Laimbeer says that he wants his team to get home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference, then advance to the WNBA finals. The Shock (21-12) clinched the East’s top seed Thursday when they beat the Washington Mystics 78-66 and Connecticut lost at San Antonio... Alana Beard led Washington with 16 points and Monique Currie added 14.

Augustus, Wiggins out for final 2 games -- The AP reports: The Minnesota Lynx will play the final two games of another disappointing season without their top two scorers. Seimone Augustus and Candice Wiggins have been shut down for the rest of the year because of injuries suffered in Tuesday night’s game against Indiana. Augustus was taken off the court in a wheelchair after a nasty fall and has a mild concussion.

Storm sign G Beck -- Ticker reports: The Seattle Storm on Thursday signed guard Kimberly Beck for the remainder of the regular season. Beck was selected by the Storm with the 36th pick in the 2008 draft and played in 15 games earlier this season before being released on June 28.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, SEPT 11

The AP reports: The WNBA’s playoff fields are set, but teams are still battling for seeding. The second meeting between the San Antonio Silver Stars and the Connecticut Sun in five days will likely go a long way toward determining the final standings. In a potential finals preview, the Silver Stars look to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference on Thursday night when they host the Sun, who are hoping to stay alive in the race for the Eastern Conference’s top spot. San Antonio (22-10) has won 14 of its last 18 games to take over first place in the West, one game ahead of second-place Seattle. Because the Silver Stars own the tiebreaker over the Storm, a win in one of their final two games will give them the top seed.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPT 10

Lynx guard Augustus taken off court in wheelchair -- The AP reports: Minnesota Lynx guard Seimone Augustus was taken off the court in a wheelchair wearing a neck brace after hitting her head on the floor during the first quarter of Minnesota’s game against the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night. The team said Augustus was undergoing tests on her head and would not return to the game. She was last seen walking slowly on her own and still wearing the neck brace while leaving the Target Center just before halftime.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPT 3

Liberty beats Comets 90-87 in OT -- The AP reports: Janel McCarville scored a career-high 34 points and Lisa Willis added a career-high 19 to help the New York Liberty beat the Houston Comets 90-87 in overtime Tuesday night, snapping the Comets’ eight game home win streak. The Liberty (16-12) blew 10- and seven-point leads in the fourth period and overtime, respectively, but McCarville and Willis teamed up to push New York past the Comets (14-15)... Tina Thompson scored a season-high 32 points for the Comets, who fell to 0-3 since returning from the Olympic break. Prior to Tuesday, Houston had not lost at home since suffering a 67-63 loss to Washington on June 18.

Bird scores 21 to lead Seattle past Atlanta -- The AP reports: Sue Bird scored 21 points and had nine assists to lead the Seattle Storm to a 83-69 victory over the woeful Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night. Camille Little, who was traded from Atlanta to Seattle in June, scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help the Storm (19-10) move into a first-place tie with San Antonio in the West. Yolanda Griffith also had 16 points and Tanisha Wright added 11... Betty Lennox scored 25 points to lead the Dream. Iziane Castro Marques scored all of her 12 points in the first half.

Catchings helps Fever rally past Mystics -- The AP reports: Tamika Catchings scored 15 of her game-high 26 points in the second half to help the Indiana Fever rally for a 79-68 victory over the Washington Mystics on Tuesday night.

The AP reports: With the regular season winding down, the Phoenix Mercury are looking at each of their final six games as must-wins. The defending WNBA champions look to bounce back from a blowout loss in their return to action after the Olympic break when they continue their six-game homestand on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Lynx. Phoenix (12-16) earned its first championship last season by beating Detroit in the finals, but its bid to repeat was hindered before it even got started.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR TUESDAY, SEPT 2

Parker, Leslie lead Sparks past Lynx 82-58 -- The AP reports: Candace Parker had 24 points and 16 rebounds, and Lisa Leslie added 20 points, eight rebounds and seven blocks as the Los Angeles Sparks routed the Minnesota Lynx 82-58 on Monday night. DeLisha Milton-Jones added a season-best 10 rebounds for the Sparks (18-12), who won their fourth consecutive game and moved within 1 1/2 games of first-place San Antonio in the Western Conference... Seimone Augustus scored 13 points and Nicky Anosike had 10 points and seven rebounds for the Lynx (14-14), who shot 33 percent in recording a season low in points.

The AP reports: Seattle (18-10) starts play one-half game behind first-place San Antonio in the West, but the Storm would likely be atop the conference if they had played better away from the Pacific Northwest. Seattle is 4-9 on the road, the league’s worst record among teams with at least 15 victories. After winning at home over Houston on Thursday in their first game following the month-long Olympic break, the Storm opened their trip with an 80-76 loss to East-leading Connecticut on Sunday.

The AP reports: The Fever (13-15) are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference, and with six games to go in the regular season, are trying to hold off Chicago and Washington (10-18) for the final playoff spot. Indiana could wrap up a postseason berth before it returns home for its final two games, but must play better on the road to do so. The Fever are 4-9 away from Conseco Fieldhouse, and have lost seven of nine, including a 50-48 loss in their first trip to Washington on July 8.

The AP reports: New York (15-12) won three straight and six of seven before the break, while Houston (14-14) was on a five-game winning streak before the hiatus started in late July. Both teams, however, are 0-2 since returning to action. The Liberty fell 69-60 at home to Chicago on Thursday and 83-69 at Detroit the following night. The Comets have lost a pair of road games, 66-49 to Seattle on Thursday and 80-65 to Sacramento on Saturday. With seven games remaining in its season, New York is in third place in the Eastern Conference, three games behind first-place Connecticut and 2 1/2 up on fourth-place Indiana. Houston is on the outside of the playoff picture, trailing fourth-place Sacramento by 1 1/2 games in the West with six games left.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, SEPT 1

Sky edge Shock in overtime -- The AP reports: Candice Dupree had 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to help the Chicago Sky win their third straight game with a 82-81 overtime win over the Detroit Shock on Sunday night. Detroit’s Katie Smith scored 23 points to become the third player in WNBA history to reach 5,000 points. Smith, who earned her third Olympic gold medal earlier this month, now has 5,022 points, trailing only Lisa Leslie (5,853) and Tina Thompson (5,281) on the all-time scoring list... Deanna Nolan scored 18 and Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 11 points and 11 rebounds for Detroit (17-12) .

Carey lifts Sun to 80-76 victory over Storm -- The AP reports: Jamie Carey hit a jumper with 2 minutes left and a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to lift the Connecticut Sun to an 80-76 victory over the Seattle Storm in a battle of conference leaders on Sunday. The Sun (19-10) got their sixth straight win to take a 1 1/2 -game lead over Detroit in the Eastern Conference. They also tied San Antonio for the best record in the league. Asjha Jones led Connecticut with 20 point

The AP reports: The Sparks finished 10-24 last year, but that was without longtime star Lisa Leslie, who missed the season to give birth to her first child. With Leslie’s return and the addition of standout rookie Candace Parker, Los Angeles has returned to its winning ways. The Sparks (17-12) emerged from the month-long Olympic break with a pair of impressive victories over postseason contenders, earning a 78-63 win over Sacramento on Thursday before beating San Antonio 58-53 on Saturday.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SUNDAY, AUG. 31

Leslie leads Sparks’ rally against Silver Stars -- The AP reports: Lisa Leslie scored four of her 18 points and had a blocked shot in the final 1:39, and the Los Angeles Sparks rallied for a 58-53 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Saturday night. Candace Parker added 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Sparks (17-12), who have won three consecutive games after losing six of eight. Shannon Bobbitt contributed 10 points... Becky Hammon had 17 points and seven assists for the Silver Stars (19-10), who fell into a first-place tie with Seattle in the Western Conference. Ann Wauters added 13 points.

Powell, Lawson lead Monarchs past Comets -- The AP reports: Fighting for a postseason berth in the tight Western Conference, every game feels like the playoffs for the Sacramento Monarchs. Thanks to the play of Nicole Powell, the Monarchs are one step closer to their goal. She hit four 3-pointers and had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead fourth-place Sacramento past the Houston Comets 80-65 on Saturday night... It was a difficult evening for another U.S. Olympic star, Tina Thompson. The Houston forward went to the bench early in the first quarter with two fouls and played sparingly in the third quarter following a couple of turnovers. She finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

Wiggins scores 22 to lead Lynx past Mystics -- The AP reports: Rookie Candice Wiggins scored 22 points, and fellow reserve Vanessa Hayden-Johnson added 11 to lead Minnesota past the Washington Mystics 92-78 on Saturday night. The Lynx begin a four-game road stretch, and play five of their last seven away from the Target Center. Minnesota (14-13) moved ahead of Houston into fifth place in the Western Conference, one spot out of the playoffs and a game behind fourth-place Sacramento (16-13). The Lynx have the conference’s second-best road record at 6-6... Alana Beard scored 27 for the Mystics (10-18), who have lost two in a row after winning two of new coach Jessie Kenlaw’s first three games. Kenlaw replaced Tree Rollins on July 19.

Catchings scores 23 to lead Fever past Dream -- The AP reports: Tamika Catchings figured the Indiana Fever owed their fans something after the worst home loss in franchise history. She delivered with 23 points and seven rebounds, leading the Fever to an 87-72 victory against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday night... Katie Douglas and Tammy Sutton-Brown each had 21 points, marking the first time in franchise history that Indiana had three players score 20 or more points in the same game. Betty Lennox finished with 27 points and Erika DeSouza chipped in 15 for the Dream (3-26), who lost their seventh consecutive game.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SATURDAY, AUG. 30

Whitmore, Jones lead Sun over Dream -- The AP reports: Tamika Whitmore scored 27 points and Asjha Jones added 24 to lead the Sun to a 98-72 victory over the Dream. Connecticut (18-10), which clinched a playoff spot along with the Detroit Shock, has won five straight games to match its longest winning streak of the season. The Sun remained perfect in three meetings against the Dream (3-25) this season, beating them by an average of 22 points... Betty Lennox led the Dream with 19 points, while reserve Katie Feenstra added 13. Erika DeSouza had 11 points for Atlanta, which has dropped eight of its last nine games.

Nolan’s 26 points lead Shock over Liberty -- The AP reports: The last month has done wonders for the Detroit Shock. The Shock went into the long Olympic break having lost four straight games and reeling from Cheryl Ford’s knee injury and the suspensions from the July 22 brawl with Los Angeles. Ford and Plenette Pierson were still gone Friday night, but new acquisition Taj McWilliams-Franklin was in a Detroit uniform for the first time and her 15 points helped the Shock beat the New York Liberty 83-69... “We executed well, but Detroit is a great team,” said Janel McCarville, who led the Liberty with 21 points.

Perkins, Fowles lead Sky to win over Mystics -- The AP reports: Jia Perkins scored 20 of her 28 points in the second half, and Sylvia Fowles had career-highs with 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Chicago Sky beat the Washington Mystics 79-75 on Friday night. Dominique Canty added 10 points for the Sky (10-17), who won on the road Thursday, beating New York 69-60. It was the Sky’s second win in eight games all-time against Washington... Alana Beard scored 18 points and Monique Currie added 16 for the Mystics (10-17), who shot 38 percent from the field in their first game following the month long Olympic break.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR FRIDAY, AUG. 29

Seattle’s Jackson has surgery on right ankle -- The AP reports: Seattle Storm star Lauren Jackson had surgery on her right ankle Thursday in Australia. Storm coach Brian Agler spoke to Jackson as she was walking out of the hospital in Sydney following the surgery. Jackson told Agler that a bone spur, which had lodged in her ankle joint, was removed and some scar tissue was cleaned up.

Parker scores 19 to lead Sparks over Monarchs -- The AP reports: Candace Parker had 19 points, nine rebounds and five blocks to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 78-63 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs on Thursday night. Lisa Leslie added 14 points and eight blocks and DeLisha Milton-Jones had 11 points and eight rebounds for the Sparks (16-12). Nicole Powell scored 12 points and Kara Lawson added 10 points for the Monarchs (15-13), who shot a season-low 31 percent.

Bird scores 22 as Seattle routs Houston 66-49 -- The AP reports: Sue Bird returned from her gold medal-winning performance with the U.S. team in Beijing to score 22 points and the Storm started the post-Olympic break with an impressive 66-49 win over the Houston Comets on Thursday night... There was rust on both sides, as Houston last played July 26 and Seattle on July 27. Bird shook her head in disgust when a basic pick-and-roll with Yolanda Griffith fell apart and resulted in a three-point play for Houston’s Roneeka Hodges, who had 10 points.

Silver Stars beat Mercury -- The AP reports: Sophia Young scored 18 points and Ann Wauters added 15 points and nine rebounds to lead the San Antonio Silver Stars to a 77-55 rout of the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night, the first game for both teams after the monthlong Olympic break. Becky Hammon, winner of a bronze medal playing for Russia, added 13 points for the Silver Stars, who have the best record in the league at 19-9. Diana Taurasi had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the last-place Mercury, who are 2 1/2 games out of a playoff spot a year after winning the WNBA championship.

Perkins scores 19 in Chicago’s win over Liberty -- The AP reports: Olympian Sylvia Fowles overcame jet lag and found her rhythm in the second half, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Chicago Sky in her first WNBA game since winning a gold medal in Beijing. Teammate Jia Perkins scored 19 points to lead the Sky to a 69-60 win over the New York Liberty on Thursday night, the teams’ first game after a monthlong Olympic break... Essence Carson scored a career-high 19 points for the Liberty (15-11), who dropped to third in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games behind Connecticut and a half-game back of idle Detroit. Janel McCarville added 13 points for New York.

Sun get 15 from Whitmore in win over Fever -- The AP reports: The Connecticut Sun didn’t show any signs of fading in their first game back from an extended layoff. Tamika Whitmore scored 15 points and the Sun raced out to a big early lead in an 84-58 victory over the Indiana Fever on Thursday night, marking the WNBA’s return following a monthlong Olympics break... Tully Bevilaqua and Tammy Sutton-Brown each scored nine points to lead Indiana (12-15), which lost for the fourth time in five games.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, AUG. 28

Margo Dydek signs with Sparks -- The AP reports: Margo Dydek, the 7-foot-2 center who holds the WNBA record for blocked shots with 811, signed with the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday. The 34-year-old center, the first overall pick in the 1998 WNBA draft by the Utah Starzz, has averaged 10 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots in 289 career games.

Sun sign F Abrosimova -- Ticker reports: The Connecticut Sun signed forward Svetlana Abrosimova on Wednesday. The 6-2 forward played seven seasons in the WNBA for the Minnesota Lynx from 2001-07, averaging 10.0 points and 4.4 rebounds.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, AUG. 20

Lauren Jackson to have ankle surgery after Olympics -- The AP reports: Australian and WNBA star Lauren Jackson will undergo surgery on a nagging right ankle injury after the Olympics are over. A statement released by the Australia Olympic Committee said Jackson has an impingement at the front of her right ankle joint. She has required repeated injections to compete in Beijing and will have arthroscopic surgery in Sydney next week.

Shock sign McWilliams-Franklin, Shields -- The AP reports: The Detroit Shock signed six-time WNBA All-Star Taj McWilliams-Franklin to a one-year contract extension and free-agent Ashley Shields to a seven-day contract on Tuesday. The Shock received McWilliams-Franklin last week in a trade with the Washington Mystics for Tasha Humphrey, Eshaya Murphy and a 2009 second-round draft pick.

Owner of WNBA’s Mystics unhappy with losing ways -- The AP reports: The president of the Washington Mystics delivered a blistering assessment of her franchise Tuesday, declaring that the team hasn’t “moved one ounce” in its history and that she “might as well shut down” the team if doesn’t start winning. “We cannot continue on this path,” Sheila Johnson, also a part owner of the team, said in a rare conference call with reporters. “The Mystics have not moved one ounce in their 11-year history, and we’ve got to start making some changes. It is the only way this team is going to survive. “If I can’t move the marker here, I’m going to lose my fan base, I’m going to lose my corporate support, and I just might as well shut down, and I don’t want to do that. I want to make a difference in this team. I want a winning team.”


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SATURDAY, AUG. 16

Shock’s Ford has knee surgery -- The AP reports: Detroit Shock forward Cheryl Ford has had surgery to reconstruct the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee... The 6-foot-3 Ford was injured during a home game against the Los Angeles Sparks on July 22. She fell to the court while trying to restrain a teammate during a fracas with seconds left in the game.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, AUG. 14

Sun sign Asjha Jones to 3-year extension -- The AP reports: Former University of Connecticut star Asjha Jones signed a three-year contract extension with the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun... Jones is in her fifth season with the Sun. The 6-foot-2 forward leads the team in scoring at almost 17 points per game. She also averages 6.2 rebounds per contest.

Ticker reports: “Extending Asjha to a long-term contract makes good business sense,” Sun general manager Chris Sienko said. “Keeping Asjha here was a top priority for us, and we are very pleased with this new contract.”


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, AUG. 13

Shock acquire McWilliams-Franklin in trade -- The AP reports: The Detroit Shock have acquired six-time All-Star Taj McWilliams-Franklin from the Washington Mystics for forwards Tasha Humphrey and Shay Murphy and a 2009 second-round draft pick. Detroit becomes McWilliams-Franklin’s fifth team in her 10 WNBA seasons.

Ticker reports: “Tasha is a versatile rookie post that can shoot the three and score in a variety of ways, her game resembles that of Tina Thompson and she has the potential to develop into the best power forward in the league,” Mystics general manager Linda Hargrove said. “Shay is a high-energy second year player who works hard on the defensive end.”

Mercury center Smith has knee surgery -- The AP reports: Mercury center Tangela Smith underwent arthroscopic surgery on her right knee Tuesday and is expected to recover in four to six weeks. Phoenix team physician Dr. Evan Lederman performed the procedure on the 6-foot-4 Smith, the Mercury’s third-leading scorer at 11.1 points per game.

Ticker reports: “I hate to lose Tangela for a few weeks while she rehabs from the surgery, but knew that it was something that needed to be done and, in the long run, it is the best decision to keep her healthy,” Mercury coach Corey Gaines said.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR FRIDAY, AUG. 8

Mercury sign Olympia Scott -- The AP reports: The Phoenix Mercury signed forward Olympia Scott to a contract for the rest of the WNBA season Thursday. Scott played eight games last year for the champion Mercury.

Ticker reports: “We are excited to bring Olympia Scott back to Phoenix for the rest of the season to help us down the playoff stretch,” Mercury general manager Ann Meyers Drysdale said. “Her leadership was instrumental in our memorable run to the championship last season.”


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, AUG. 7

Monarchs F Brunson has knee surgery -- Ticker reports: Sacramento Monarchs forward Rebekkah Brunson underwent surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in her right knee, the team announced on Wednesday... Brunson is expected to be out four to six weeks.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, AUG. 4

With 3 wins and 24 losses, the expansion Atlanta Dream are having a rough introduction to the WNBA. OUt of the league's 14 teams, they have the worst record, and sit last in the Eastern conference. The only other team in the league with fewer than 10 wins are the Chicago Sky, who are 8-17.

The Dream are led by 5-foot-8 guard Betty Lennox (16.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.6 apg - but 3.7 turnovers per game and 42.0% FG), Ivory Latta (12.6 ppg, 3.6 apg but just 37.7% FG), Erika Desouza (9.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 1.4 bpg on 55.3% FG), Iziane Castro Marques (8.5 ppg), Tamera Young (8.0 ppg) and Alison Bales (6.7 rpg off the bench).

In reality, though, almost all expansion teams get smoked their first season in existence. Things may not get much better next year. So, this isn't shocking. THe key is that they have a plan, gather up some good building blocks, and aim to be competitive two or three seasons from now.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SATURDAY, AUG. 2

The WNBA is on Olympics break until August 28, but here are some stats:

Players in the WNBA scoring 20PPG or more: Diana Taurasi (23.9 ppg), Cappie Pondexter (22.3), and Lauren Jackson (20.2).

Players in the WNBA scoring 18PPG or more: Seimone Augustus (19.9), Candace Parker (18.8) and Sophia Young (18.2).


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, JULY 31

As of July 28, the league is on "WNBA Olympic Break" and there are no WNBA games until Thursday, August 28.

But, if any WNBA players get signed, cut, traded, injured, or anything else worth knowing develops, it'll be posted here. So always hit the InsideHoops.com WNBA section once a day, and you'll always know what's up.


July 20 Feature: Indiana wins first-ever NY Liberty Outdoor Classic game
July 10 Mini-Feature: Rookie superstar Candace Parker is dominating the WNBA

WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, JULY 28

Bird scores 24, Storm beats Monarchs 77-71 -- The AP reports: Sue Bird scored a season-high 24 points and the Seattle Storm fended off a Sacramento comeback to end the Monarchs’ seven-game winning streak Sunday night with a 77-71 victory. Swin Cash added 13 points for Seattle and Tanish Wright had 12 in the last WNBA game before a monthlong break for the Olympic Games in Beijing... Scholanda Robinson scored 13 points for the Monarchs, who matched a franchise record with their winning streak. Nicole Powell had 12 points, including seven in the fourth-quarter rally before she fouled out with 1:21 to go.

Leslie, Parker lead Sparks past Lynx 92-84 -- The AP reports: Lisa Leslie scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 92-84 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. Leslie and rookie Candace Parker each finished with 23 points for the Sparks, in a game that featured one third of the U.S. Olympic roster... Seimone Augustus—who will join Leslie, Parker and DeLisha Milton-Jones on Team USA—had 29 points for the Lynx (13-13), who missed all six of their shots in overtime.

Catchings scores 25 to lead Fever over Mercury -- The AP reports: Tamika Catchings scored a season-high 25 points including a pair of free throws with 11.4 seconds left to help the Indiana Fever to an 88-84 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday night. WNBA scoring leader Diana Taurasi had 23 points for the defending champion Mercury, who go into the month-long Olympic break in Western Conference cellar, six games back of leader San Antonio.

Hammon, Riley prolong Shock skid -- The AP reports: Bill Laimbeer has seen a lot of strange things in his long basketball career, but nothing quite like the last week. Laimbeer’s Detroit Shock lost four straight games, got national attention for a fight with Los Angeles that cost them two of their best players, signed 50-year-old Nancy Lieberman and dropped out of first place in the Eastern Conference. “This is as tough a stretch as we’ve ever had,” Laimbeer said after Sunday’s 76-64 loss to San Antonio. “We definitely need to regroup right now.”

Christon scores 24 points in N.Y. win over Atlanta -- The AP reports: Shameka Christon scored 24 points and Janel McCarville had 22 points and had 10 rebounds to lead the New York Liberty to an 86-76 win over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday. Betty Lennox had 18 points for Atlanta, which has lost five straight. Christon benefited from a series of crisp screens, for which she credited coach Pat Coyle.

Jones scores 27 to lead Sun over Mystics -- The AP reports: Asjha Jones scored 27 points to lead the Connecticut Sun to an 82-60 victory over the Washington Mystics on Sunday... Taj McWilliams-Franklin led Washington with 11 points and six rebounds. Reserve forward Crystal Langhorne added 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SUNDAY, JULY 27

Detroit Shock sign C Kelly Schumacher -- The AP reports: The Detroit Shock on Saturday signed center Kelly Schumacher to a contract for the remainder of the season. Terms were not disclosed. The 6-foot-5-inch Schumacher came off the bench in all 34 games last season with the Phoenix Mercury, averaging 4.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 16 minutes per game for the league champions.

Comets beat Sky, 79-65 -- The AP reports: Tina Thompson scored 16 points and Roneeka Hodges added 15 for the Houston Comets, who beat the Chicago Sky 79-65 Saturday night to complete a sweep of a five-game homestand. Rookie Matee Ajavon (13 points), Shannon Johnson (12 points) and Sancho Lyttle (11 points) also scored in double digits for Houston (14-12), which moved into a tie with Los Angeles for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference... Chicago’s Candice Dupree made nine of her 15 shots and finished with a season-high tying 28 points.

Detroit Shock sign C Kelly Schumacher -- The AP reports: The Detroit Shock on Saturday signed center Kelly Schumacher to a contract for the remainder of the season. Terms were not disclosed.

Monarchs win seventh straight, downing Fever -- The AP reports: Considering how well the Sacramento Monarchs are playing right now, the Olympic break might be coming at an inopportune time. Rebekkah Brunson had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Monarchs, who beat the Indiana Fever 70-62 Saturday night to match a franchise record with seven straight victories. The Monarchs go after the record Sunday in Seattle, where they play their final game before the Olympic break. Sacramento also won seven straight games in July of the 2006 season.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SATURDAY, JULY 26

Shock waive G Lieberman -- Ticker reports: Nancy Lieberman’s historic return to the WNBA did not last long. The 50-year-old guard was waived by the Detroit Shock on Friday one day after signing a seven-day contract. Currently a basketball analyst for ESPN, Lieberman became the oldest player to ever suit up for a WNBA game, shooting 0-of-1 from the field with two assists and two turnovers in nine minutes in the Shock’s 79-61 loss to the Houston Comets on Thursday night. The Hall of Famer celebrated her 50th birthday on July 1.

Taurasi scores 31 to lead Mercury past Storm -- The AP reports: Diana Taurasi scored 31 points to lead the Phoenix Mercury past the Seattle Storm 94-80 Friday, snapping a two-game losing streak. Phoenix led by as much as 20 in the first half, but allowed Seattle to tie the game in the third before pulling away in the final 15 minutes. Yolanda Griffith scored 15 of her team-high 17 points in the second half to lead Seattle, which lost for only the second time in 10 games... Tanisha Wright added 14 points and eight rebounds, and Camille Little had 13 points and seven rebounds for the Storm, who played without Sheryl Swoopes, hobbled by a hamstring injury.

Augustus scores 20 to lead Lynx past Stars 78-68 -- The AP reports: Seimone Augustus scored 20 points, Lindsey Harding added a season-high 13 and the Minnesota Lynx beat the San Antonio Silver Stars 78-68 on Friday night. Playing without injured star rookie Candice Wiggins, the Lynx (13-12) got their usual production from Augustus, who will join the U.S. Olympic team when the WNBA takes its one-month hiatus for the Beijing Games... Sophia Young led San Antonio with 21 points while Becky Hammon and Ann Wauters had 18 and 15 points, respectively.

McWilliams-Franklin has double-double for Mystics -- The AP reports: McWilliams-Franklin scored 13 points and had 12 rebounds in Washington’s 81-75 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Friday night. Alana Beard finished with 12 points, and Monique Currie and Bernice Mosby each had 11 for the Mystics, who held Atlanta without a field goal in the final 3:46... Iziane Castro Marques scored 23 points for Atlanta, which took its first lead in two games when Betty Lennox pulled up on a fast break and hit a 14-footer midway through the second quarter.

McCarville’s late basket leads Liberty over Sparks -- The AP reports: Janel McCarville believed the New York Liberty would prevail despite blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter. McCarville’s layup with 6.4 seconds left lifted the Liberty to a 69-68 win over the Sparks on Friday night... The Sparks got Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, and DeLisha Milton-Jones back from their one game suspensions for their involvement in Tuesday’s altercation with the Detroit Shock. The three Olympians missed Thursday night’s 87-61 loss at Connecticut... Milton-Jones led the Sparks with 19 points and Leslie added 16 points and 13 rebounds.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR FRIDAY, JULY 25

WNBA suspends 10 players and Mahorn for skirmish -- The AP reports: The WNBA punished so many players for their roles in this week’s skirmish that the league is staggering the suspensions by alphabetical order... Shock forward Plenette Pierson was suspended for four games, the harshest penalty, for initiating and escalating the altercation... Rick Mahorn was suspended for two games, as were Shannon Bobbitt and Murriel Page of the Sparks, for the incident at The Palace of Auburn Hills... Players suspended for one game included Detroit’s Kara Braxton, Tasha Humphrey, Elaine Powell and Sheri Sam, along with Los Angeles’ Leslie, Candace Parker and DeLisha Milton-Jones. Pierson was also fined $1,500 and Mahorn was docked $1,000. The rest of the players involved were fined $500 each.

Monarchs win 6th straight, beat Mercury 83-74 -- The AP reports: Rebekkah Brunson had 18 points and 11 rebounds, and the Sacramento Monarchs beat the Phoenix Mercury 83-74 Thursday for their sixth straight victory. Kara Lawson had 15 points and seven assists, and Nicole Powell added 13 points for the Monarchs, who were at the bottom of the Western Conference standings just two weeks ago. Sacramento broke open a tight game with a 9-2 run midway through the fourth quarter, including a key jumper by Brunson to extend Sacramento’s longest winning streak of the season.

Shock sign 50-year-old Hall of Famer Lieberman -- The AP reports: The Detroit Shock came up with a way to distract some attention away from their skirmish earlier this week. For one game at least. The Shock signed 50-year-old Nancy Lieberman, a Hall of Famer and one of their former coaches, to a seven-day contract on Thursday and she expected to play only that night in Houston. “It’s really a one-game deal,” Lieberman said in a telephone interview.

Young has 20 in Silver Stars’ 78-67 win over Sky -- The AP reports: Sophia Young scored 20 points, including seven during a decisive third-quarter run, and the San Antonio Silver Stars defeated the Chicago Sky 78-67 Thursday. The Silver Stars (17-8) moved ahead of idle Seattle into first place in the Western Conference. Erin Buescher came off the bench to add 13 for San Antonio before running into a hard screen set by Chasity Melvin with 3:02 left in the game. Buescher, who hit 2 of 3 3-pointers, fell to the floor but walked off after being helped by trainers. She returned to the game to play the final minute.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, JULY 24

Shock F Ford out for season -- Ticker reports: One day after losing a game marred by an ugly brawl, the Detroit Shock lost forward Cheryl Ford for the season. Ford will miss the remainder of the regular season after being diagnosed Wednesday with a torn right ACL. A former WNBA Rookie of the Year, Ford suffered the injury during a melee that occurred during the final seconds of Tuesday’s 84-81 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Jackson scores 14 off bench in Liberty win -- The AP reports: Tiffany Jackson came off the bench to score a team-high 14 points as the New York Liberty beat the Washington Mystics 80-73 on Wednesday. Jackson’s basket gave the Liberty a 73-69 lead with about a minute to play, and her free throw with 25.2 left put them up 76-71.

Leslie, Parker involved in melee with Shock -- The AP reports: In case you missed the melee, which was late in a nationally televised game on ESPN2, it started moments after Parker and Detroit’s Cheryl Ford had to be separated after Ford fouled Parker. On the next possession, Parker got tangled up with Detroit’s Plenette Pierson and fell to the ground. As Parker was getting up, Pierson hovered over the Sparks’ rookie, who pulled her to the ground... Parker then was tackled by the Shock’s Deanna Nolan. Players and coaches from both teams joined in, and Mahorn—who said he simply was trying to separate players—pushed Leslie at one point and knocked her to the court. Los Angeles’ DeLisha Milton-Jones then pushed and punched Mahorn in the back.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 23

Dupree leads Sky over Fever -- The AP reports: Candice Dupree had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead the Chicago Sky to a 68-60 win over the Indiana Fever on Tuesday night. Jia Perkins had 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Sky (8-15), which won for the third time in five games after losing its previous four. Chasity Melvin added 13 points and seven rebounds while Quianna Chaney scored 11 for Chicago. “We were able to fight through it and win the game at the foul line,” Dupree said.

Bird, Cash, tough defense lead Storm past Lynx -- The AP reports: Sue Bird and the Seattle Storm returned to form. Bird scored 22 points, Swin Cash added 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Seattle used a team effort to lock down two of the league’s top scorers and hold on for a 76-73 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday afternoon. Seimone Augustus and Candice Wiggins helped the Lynx hustle back from a 17-point deficit midway through the third quarter, but their early struggles were ultimately too much to overcome.

Monarchs win 5th straight, defeat Dream 79-66 -- The AP reports: Scholanda Robinson had the perfect answer to the Atlanta Dream’s big front line, which includes 6-foot-8 Katie Feenstra and 6-7 Alison Bales. Robinson scored a career-high 17 points to lift the Sacramento Monarchs to their fifth straight victory, a 79-66 win Tuesday over the Atlanta Dream... Rookie Laura Harper had a career-high 12 rebounds in the afternoon game attended by several summer youth clubs.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR TUESDAY, JULY 22

Monarchs re-sign DeMya Walker -- The AP reports: The Sacramento Monarchs re-signed free agent DeMya Walker on Monday, two months after releasing her with what was believed to be a season-ending knee injury. Walker was waived on May 15, less than three weeks after breaking her knee cap while playing in Russia. She underwent surgery on May 2 and was expected to miss six months.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR MONDAY, JULY 21

Monarchs hand Shock first home loss of season -- The AP reports: Rebekkah Brunson led the Monarchs with 18 points and Ticha Penicheiro added 17. Deanna Nolan had 27 for Detroit while Cheryl Ford added 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Mystics stop Storm’s run with 89-57 victory -- The AP reports: Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored 22 points and the Washington Mystics won their first game since coach Tree Rollins was fired, beating Seattle 89-57 Sunday to end the Storm’s seven-game winning streak. Alana Beard tied a career high with nine assists for the Mystics (9-14), who made 10 3-pointers in their first game under interim coach Jessie Kenlaw... Katie Gearlds scored 13 points, Sue Bird had 11 and Camille Little had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Storm (15-8), who was held to their lowest scoring output of the season.

Sun snap losing streak -- The AP reports: Asjha Jones had 23 points and 10 rebounds in helping the Connecticut Sun snap a five-game losing streak with a 74-67 win over the Chicago Sky on Sunday. Lindsay Whalen added 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Connecticut, which held the Sky scoreless for 2 minutes, 22 seconds in the fourth period... Armintie Price led the Sky (7-15) with 15 points off the bench.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SUNDAY, JULY 20

Fever beat Liberty in WNBA’s first outdoor game -- The AP reports: The Indiana Fever overcame the heat and humidity, and stole the spotlight—under the moonlight—from the New York Liberty in the WNBA’s first outdoor game. On a basketball court laid on top of the tennis court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Katie Douglas scored nine of her 20 points in the fourth quarter, Tamika Catchings had 15 points and nine rebounds, and the Fever (11-11) beat the Liberty 71-55 on Saturday night. Catchings believes the weather conditions—the game-time temperature was a steamy 87 degrees—were a factor as the game went on... Fireworks shot out from the sides outside the stadium before the Liberty’s starting lineup was announced, and on the court during the introductions as the players ran on the court. Janel McCarville had 10 points for New York (12-10), which had won three straight and five of seven coming in.

The AP reports: Indiana All-Star Tamika Catchings called playing in 90-degree heat at Arthur Ashe Stadium “street ball in a professional realm.” New York’s Lisa Willis didn’t seem bothered by the summer sun after coming off the practice court before the first regular-season outdoor game in professional basketball history, featuring the host Liberty and the Fever. Kids and adults were handed free fans as they entered the USTA Billie Jean National Tennis Center for the fan festival at the Liberty Outdoor Classic on Saturday night. Former Knicks Allan Houston and John Starks along with former Liberty stars Kym Hampton and Sue Wicks participated in the fan festival.

Mystics fire Rollins, make Kenlaw interim coach -- The AP reports: The Washington Mystics have fired Tree Rollins as coach and promoted assistant Jessie Kenlaw to the position on an interim basis.

Augustus hits 11 straight in Minnesota’s 87-74 win -- The AP reports: Seimone Augustus made 11 straight shots from the floor and finished with a season-high 30 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to an 87-74 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Saturday night. Augustus missed a shot 4:10 into the contest and didn’t miss again until 6:24 remained. She finished 12-of-15 in 35 minutes... Candice Wiggins added 24 points for Minnesota (11-11). Becky Hammon scored 24, Ann Wauters had 18 and Sophia Young added 15 for San Antonio (16-8), which dropped out of first place in the Western Conference.

Snow’s 20 points helps Comets beat Sparks in OT -- The AP reports: Michelle Snow scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Houston Comets to a 75-72 overtime win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday night... Tamecka Dixon added 17 points, including six in overtime, for Houston which is 2-2 in overtime this season, including 1-1 against the Sparks. Hamchetou Maiga-Ba was 5-for-9 from the floor and was the only other Comets player in double figures. Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie each scored 16 points for the Sparks (13-10), which has lost five straight on the road, falling to 5-6 away from home.

Taurasi leads Mercury past Dream -- The AP reports: Diana Taurasi scored 21 points in 22 minutes to lead the Phoenix Mercury past the Atlanta Dream 110-84 on Saturday night. Cappie Pondexter, second in the league in scoring behind Taurasi, added 17 points and seven rebounds in helping the defending WNBA champions rout the expansion Dream... Kasha Terry scored 16 points, including 14 in the first half, and grabbed 11 rebounds for Atlanta (3-21). Ivory Latta added 18 points and Iziane Castro Marques had 17 for the Dream, who have lost four of five after getting the franchise’s first wins.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR SATURDAY, JULY 19

Kelly lifts Monarchs to 77-73 win over Dream -- The AP reports: Although they played sloppy and nearly squandered a 19-point lead to the WNBA’s worst team, the Sacramento Monarchs are still pleased with the win. Crystal Kelly scored 15 points for the Monarchs, who held off the Atlanta Dream on Friday night for a 77-73 victory and moved into fourth place in the Western Conference where the top four teams make the playoffs. It was the third straight win for Sacramento (11-11), which took over fourth place from idle Minnesota.

Storm wins 7th straight, 65-59 over Fever -- The AP reports: Sue Bird made sure the Storm’s winning streak kept going, even without WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson. Bird’s crafty passes and clutch shots helped the Storm (15-7) overcome a 17-point first-half deficit on Friday night and run their winning streak to seven games with a 65-59 win over the Indiana Fever... Sheryl Swoopes scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds in playing more minutes than usual because Jackson left the Storm this week to join the Australian Olympic basketball team.

Perkins and Sky send Sun to fifth straight loss -- The AP reports: Jia Perkins scored 15 points to lead five players in double figures and the Chicago Sky beat Connecticut 73-65 on Friday night, sending the Sun to their fifth straight loss. Chasity Melvin scored 13, K.B. Sharp had 12, Candice Dupree had 11 and rookie Quianna Chaney added a career-high 10 for Chicago (7-14), which won for just the second time in seven games... Asjha Jones scored 18 for the Sun (13-10), who have lost five consecutive road games. Tamika Whitmore scored 13 and Sandrine Gruda added 10 points and 11 rebounds for Connecticut, which lost to the Sky for the second time in nine games.

Nolan scores 21 in 1st half, lifting Shock to win -- The AP reports: Deanna Nolan scored 21 of her 26 points in the first half and led five players in double figures as the Detroit Shock cruised to a 99-62 victory over the Washington Mystics on Friday night... Taj McWilliams-Franklin led Washington with 13 points and eight rebounds. Nikki Blue added 10 points for the Mystics, who lost their second straight and for the sixth time in eight games.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR FRIDAY, JULY 18

Mercury hold off Sparks, despite Milton-Jones’ 38 -- The AP reports: Cappie Pondexter scored 27 points and the Phoenix Mercury held off the Los Angeles Sparks 99-92 on Thursday night to snap a three-game losing streak. The Mercury (10-12) led by 10 going into the final quarter but Los Angeles (13-9) rallied to within 91-88 with 1:28 left... Diana Taurasi, who added 23 points for Phoenix, then sank four straight free throws to secure the win. Milton-Jones, who averages 13.1 points, scored 19 of her 38 in the first quarter and topped her previous career-high of 26 points before halftime. She ended the night making 13-of-20 from the field, 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, and adding six rebounds and four assists.

Liberty cruise past Mystics for third straight win -- The AP reports: With some of New York’s starters struggling, the reserves stepped up and helped the Liberty pull out an easy win. Ashley Battle scored 15 of the backups’ 45 points to help New York cruise to a 77-56 victory over the Washington Mystics on Thursday night... Alana Beard scored 15 points and Taj McWilliams-Franklin had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Mystics (8-13). Washington shot 34 percent from the field and committed 22 turnovers that led to 27 points for New York.

Thompson scores 25 to lead Comets past Lynx -- The AP reports: Tina Thompson scored 25 points off the bench, helping the Houston Comets snap a three-game losing streak with a 96-88 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday... Tamecka Dixon added 22 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Comets (10-12). Sancho Lyttle scored 16 points and tied a career-high with 18 rebounds, and Maiga-Ba finished with 14 points... Wiggins wound up with 27 points off the bench for Minnesota. Seimone Augustus finished with 17, Vanessa Hayden-Johnson had 14 and Kristen Rasmussen 10.

Catchings cleared after MRI reveals heel OK -- The AP reports: Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings was cleared to play Thursday after an MRI showed no damage to her Achilles’ tendon, which she injured last season.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR THURSDAY, JULY 17

Ford, Humphrey lead Shock to 10-0 home record -- The AP reports: Cheryl Ford had 14 points to help Detroit maintain the league’s only unbeaten home record (10-0), but she’s concerned about Detroit’s propensity to lose big leads... Ford and rookie Tasha Humphrey, who scored 12 points, were the only Shock players to reach double figures. Guards Katie Smith and Deanna Nolan combined for just 12 points on 5-for-17 shooting, while top reserve Plenette Pierson had nine... Jia Perkins of the Sky led all scorers with 26 points, and Candice Dupree had 12.

Atlanta wins again, defeats Indiana on road -- The AP reports: The Atlanta Dream continued their strong play after a dismal start to their season. Iziane Castro Marques had 24 points and Betty Lennox scored 11 of her 16 in the fourth quarter to lead the expansion Dream to an 81-77 victory Wednesday against the Indiana Fever... Indiana forward Tamika Catchings had 18 points, 12 rebounds and five assists before re-injuring her right heel with 6:46 left in the fourth quarter... Katie Douglas had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Ebony Hoffman added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Fever (10-10), who ended their five-game home winning streak.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 16

Silver Stars hold off Mercury -- The AP reports: Sophia Young scored 10 of her 26 points in the third quarter, leading the San Antonio Silver Stars to a 97-87 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night. Becky Hammon scored 19 points and Ann Wauters and Erin Buescher each added 15 for San Antonio (16-7), which leads the West by a game over Seattle... Cappie Pondexter and Diana Taurasi each had 23 points for the Mercury (9-12), who have lost three straight and five of six. The duo—the top two scorers in the league—were a combined 10-of-29 from the field going into the final quarter.

Willis leads Liberty over Sun 77-71 -- The AP reports: Lisa Willis scored a career-high 18 points and the New York Liberty beat the slumping Connecticut Sun 77-71 Tuesday night. Shameka Christon had 14 points for New York, while Cathrine Kraayeveld scored 11 and Janel McCarville had 10. The Liberty (11-9) won their second straight and moved one game behind the second-place Sun (13-9), who have lost four straight... Lindsay Whalen led the Sun with 19 points, while Jamie Carey had a career-high 18 on six 3-pointers and Asjha Jones scored 16.

Storm sign G O”Neill to seven-day deal -- Ticker reports: The Seattle Storm on Tuesday signed guard Kristen O’Neill to a third seven-day contract.

The AP reports: Atlanta’s road trip got off to a promising start, but things haven’t gone quite as smoothly since then. The expansion Dream will be trying to regain their recent brief momentum when they visit the Indiana Fever on Wednesday. Atlanta (2-19) set a WNBA record for the worst start to a season by dropping its first 17 games. The Dream finally got into the win column by beating Chicago 91-84 at home July 5, and four days later defeated Minnesota 73-67 to kick off a season-high six-game road trip.

The AP reports: Though they’ve been struggling recently on the road, the Detroit Shock still are perfect at home this season. The Eastern Conference-leading Shock look to stay undefeated at The Palace of Auburn Hills when they face the Chicago Sky on Wednesday night. At 9-0, Detroit (14-7) is the only WNBA team with a perfect home record. The Shock have already broken their franchise record of six straight home wins to start a season, and their nine-game run is just four shy of tying the team record set July 20, 2005-June 25, 2006.


WNBA BASKETBALL NEWS FOR TUESDAY, JULY 15

Parker scores 24 to lead Sparks past Silver Stars -- The AP reports: Candace Parker had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 75-62 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Monday night. DeLisha Milton-Jones added 15 points and Lisa Leslie had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Sparks (13-8), who broke a two-game losing streak... Becky Hammon scored 21 points and Ann Wauters had 18 points, eight rebounds and four steals for the Silver Stars (15-7), whose seven-game winning streak ended.

The AP reports: The San Antonio Silver Stars climbed to the top of the Western Conference with their longest win streak in seven years. The end of that run, however, has them fighting to hold on to first place. The Silver Stars look to bounce back from their first loss in more than two weeks and protect the top spot in the West on Tuesday night when they visit the struggling Phoenix Mercury. After dropping consecutive games to Houston on June 24 and 26 to fall to 8-6 on the season, San Antonio (15-7) won seven straight for its longest run since a franchise-record eight-game win streak in 2001, when the team played in Utah.

The AP reports: The Connecticut Sun hope a return home will help them snap their longest losing streak of the season. The Sun will try to end a three-game slide on Tuesday night when they face the New York Liberty at Mohegan Sun Arena. Connecticut (13-8) is coming off Sunday’s 69-64 road loss to Washington. All three losses during the skid have come on the road, where the Sun have dropped four straight overall.