Tina Charles had 22 points and 14 rebounds to help the Connecticut Sun beat the Atlanta Dream 96-80 on Saturday.
Kara Lawson scored 18 points, Asjha Jones added 15 and Sandrine Gruda 14 as the Sun (12-8) improved to 8-1 at home. With their first victory in three meetings against the Dream this season, Connecticut moved one game behind first-place Washington and Atlanta in the Eastern Conference.
Angel McCoughtry scored 27 points to lead Atlanta (14-8), which lost its third straight and dropped percentage points behind the Mystics. Sancho Lyttle added 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Storm 73, Lynx 71
At Minneapolis, Minnesota, Tanisha Wright’s 3-pointer with 52.6 seconds remaining lifted Seattle past Minnesota.
Lauren Jackson scored 14 of her 26 points in the fourth quarter to help the Storm (18-2) rally from a seven-point deficit and overcome a season-high 23 turnovers to win their ninth straight.
Swin Cash had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Sue Bird added 10 points.
Rebekkah Brunson scored 19 points, and Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen added 13 each for the Lynx (7-12), who dropped into a tie for second place in the Western Conference — 10-and-one-half games behind the Storm.
Minnesota had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but Augustus missed a hook shot on the final possession and Bird held on to the rebound.
Mercury 97, Shock 88
At Phoenix, Arizona, Penny Taylor had 29 points, seven assists and six rebounds to lead Phoenix over Tulsa.
Candice Dupree added 26 points and six rebounds for the Mercury (8-12), who have won three of their last four and seem to have the Shock figured out.
Phoenix has defeated Tulsa by an average of 23 points in their previous two meetings, scoring more than 110 points both times.
Scholanda Robinson had 15 points and five rebounds for the Shock (4-16), who snapped a season-worst 12-game skid Friday at San Antonio, but is 0-4 on the second night of back-to-back games.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely