Charlotte Takes Its Shots, Puts Down Sparks

Dawn Staley says she loves playing the Sparks because she knows her team is going to have an opportunity to score, and it showed Saturday in the Sting’s 84-75 victory over Los Angeles at Charlotte, N.C.

Sheri Sam led Charlotte (1-3), which shot 52% overall and made eight of 14 three-point attempts. Staley had 12 points, 10 assists and no turnovers.

“They played off of me in the first half,” said Staley, who scored all her points in the last half. “That was insulting, to be perfectly honest, I knew I was going to look for my shot in the second half; it was just a question of whether it would go in or not.”

Chamique Holdsclaw recorded her fourth consecutive double-double for the Sparks, finishing with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Lisa Leslie added 16 points and nine rebounds, and Tamika Whitmore had 14 points. The Sparks ended their season-opening trip with a 2-2 record.

“I think we learned a lot about the team on this road trip,” Holdsclaw said. “We’re still getting used to each other. Everybody knows what we need to do to improve.”

The Sparks cut an 11-point deficit to three in the second half but got no closer.

Connecticut 85, Phoenix 68 -- The Mercury’s Diana Taurasi got a rousing ovation at the Mohegan Sun Arena in her return to Connecticut, but the host Sun controlled the inside game with Taj McWilliams-Franklin’s 25 points and nine rebounds to win at Uncasville, Conn.

Nykesha Sales added 21 points, and Lindsay Whalen contributed seven assists.

Taurasi finished with 19 points but had no assists. Her teammate, Anna DeForge, picked up the slack, with 20 points and nine assists.

“I wasn’t frustrated,” Taurasi said of the Sun defense. “That happens every day playing in the WNBA. Obviously we didn’t get the job done.”