2016 WNBA season scores: Storm back in playoff picture after beating Sparks


The first time the Seattle Storm and the Los Angeles Sparks met, the Sparks won by 30. That wasn't the story on Friday at the Key Arena as Storm showed up as a much different team to beat the Sparks, 79-72 in a wire-to-wire victory which brought the Storm back in the playoff picture.

Needing a win to improve its overall record, Seattle surprised the supposedly well-rested Sparks right from the get-go with its three-point shooting and tenacious defense which kept the Sparks out of rhythm. Sue Bird had three triples in the opening quarter alone, while another from Jewell Loyd gave the Storm a double-digit lead,

The Sparks managed to cut the deficit down to three entering the halftime break, 31-28, but the Storm opened the third quarter on a 10-2 run to once again go ahead by double-digits.

Noelle Quinn and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis then provided support off the bench, scoring 15 combined as Seattle outscored Los Angeles, 24-16 in the third period.

The Storm maintained the deliberate pace in the fourth quarter, not allowing the Sparks to run in transition. Brian Agler then pulled Candace Parker, who struggled all-game long, out during the halfway point of the fourth, as the Storm had control the game until the end.

Crystal Langhorne had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Storm, which improved to 10-15 in the team standings. Bird added 15 points on 5-for-7 three-point shooting. Loyd also had 15 points and dished out seven assists.

Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks (21-4) with 28 points on an efficient 11-for-15 shooting. Jantel Lavender added 14 points off the bench, but Candace Parker was limited to only seven points on 3-for-9 shooting, 10 boards, and six assists.

The Sparks, the league's best three-point shooting team, shot only 5-for-17 from long distance while the Storm made 10-for-22.

It has been an uncharacteristic ride lately for the league leaders, dropping three of their last four games although they still sit at the top of the league standings.

Last night's scores:

 Connecticut Sun 84, Minnesota Lynx 80


The Connecticut Sun picked up from where they left off, stunning another legitimate championship contender to tally their third straight win.

Six players finished in double-digits for Connecticut. Alyssa Thomas led the team with 15 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Three others scored 12 points.

Lindsay Whalen and Sylvia Fowles each scored 16 points for Minnesota, but Maya Moore was limited to only eight points on 3-for-12 shooting.

The Sun rose to 9-16 in the team standings with the win, good for 10th spot. The Lynx are now 21-5, still half a game behind the Sparks for top place.

New York Liberty 84, San Antonio Stars 77

The New York Liberty became the third team behind the Sparks and Lynx to clinch a playoff berth after beating the San Antonio Stars.

Sugar Rodgers had 18 points including 3-for-8 from deep while Tina Charles added 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Liberty rose to 19-8. Epiphanny Prince had five points in over seven minutes of play in her return. The Stars, which will be without Kayla McBride for the rest of the season, dropped their sixth straight game and to 5-19.

Jayne Appel-Marinelli scored 17 points while Moriah Jefferson added 16 points for the Stars.

Chicago Sky 90, Atlanta Dream 82

Reigning MVP Elena Delle Donne poured in 34 points including a perfect 14-for-14 from the foul line to lead the Chicago Sky past the Atlanta Dream.

Cappie Pondexter added 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists as Chicago moved to within a win behind .500 with a 12-13 record. Atlanta fell to 13-13, fifth in the league standings.

Courtney Vandersloot and Cheyenne Parker each tallied 14 points. Angel McCoughtry led the Dream with 22 points, five boards, and five dimes. Elizabeth Williams contributed 20 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks.

Phoenix Mercury 98, Dallas Wings 72

All starters scored in double-digits as the Phoenix Mercury (11-15) maintained hold of seventh spot in the team standings with a big win over the Dallas Wings.

Penny Taylor led the Mercury with 22 points on 8-for-9 shooting. Candice Dupree added 16 points on 8-for-10 shooting. Phoenix shot 57.1 percent from the field and 19-for-21 from the stripe.

Plenette Pierson had 23 points while Skylar Diggins added 17 points. The Wings sank to 11th in the standings with a 9-17 record. The team has lost its last seven meetings.

Seattle Storm 79, Los Angeles Sparks 72

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