Diggins-Smith leads Mercury
Guard scores 26 as Phoenix earns win on road vs. Dallas
Arlington, Texas Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 26 points, Diana Taurasi added 18 and Phoenix beat the Dallas Wings 83-72 on Saturday in the Mercury’s first game without Tina Charles.
The Mercury announced earlier Saturday that they have parted ways with former MVP Charles after just 18 games.
Charles, the 2021 scoring champion, signed a one-year deal with Phoenix in February. The Mercury have played the whole season without All-Star center Brittney Griner, who is being detained in Russia on drug charges.
Diamond DeShields came off the bench to post 16 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix (7-12). Sophie Cunningham added 14 points.
Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas (9-10) with 25 points. Isabelle Harrison had 15 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 5:26 left in the game and the Wings trailing 66-65. Dallas fell to 4-6 at home.
Cunningham hit two 3-pointers and DigginsSmith capped a 13-2 run with a three-point play to close out the first half and get the Mercury within 45-44.
Griner has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17 after authorities at an airport outside of Moscow said she had vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her bag.
The Mercury have struggled with injuries and without Griner in the lineup, entered Saturday’s game against Dallas near the bottom of the standings at 6-12 after reaching the WNBA Finals last season.
Sparks 85, Storm 77: Nneke Ogwumike scored 24 points to lead Los Angeles past Seattle. Ogwumike hit 12-of-18 from the floor. Katie Lou Samuelson added 17 points, six rebounds and six assists and Brittney Sykes had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Sparks, who broke away from a 68-all tie entering the fourth quarter. Breanna Stewart scored 28 points to show the way for Seattle. Ezi Magbegor added 16 points for the Storm, who fell to 11-7. Los Angeles is 7-10.