Bird sets WNBA career assist mark

Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm broke the WNBA’s all-time assists record Friday night, passing Ticha Penicheiro with her 2,600th career assist during a 110-106 overtime loss at Washington.

Bird, who has played her entire 16-season career with the Storm, moved ahead of Penicheiro in the first quarter on a pass to Carolyn Swords, who was cutting through the lane for the basket. The game was stopped and Bird was given the ball and received a nice ovation from the Mystics’ fans.

She finished the game with 13 assists for a career total of 2,610.

Elena Delle Donne scored 37 points for Washington.

Even in defeat, Seattle gained a playoff berth when Atlanta and Chicago lost later Friday.

Sylvia Fowles had 27 points and 12 rebounds for her 20th double-double and the Minnesota Lynx set a WNBA record with 35 assists in a 110-87 win over the visiting Chicago Sky . ... The host Los Angeles Sparks kept alive their hopes for the top playoff seed with an 81-56 win over the Atlanta Dream. L.A. needs to win its final game and have Minnesota lose to gain the top spot . ... Tina Charles and Epiphanny Prince scored 16 points apiece as the host New York Liberty won their ninth straight game, defeating the San Antonio Stars 81-69 . ... Brittney Griner had 31 points in the host Phoenix Mercury’s 86-66 win over the Connecticut Sun. Phoenix clinched a home playoff game. NBA: The New Orleans Pelicans will receive the draft rights to overseas professional Ater Majok as part of a trade that is sending veteran forward Quincy Pondexter, a second-round draft choice, and cash to the Chicago Bulls. Boxing: Conor McGregor’s challenge of Floyd Mayweather Jr. was a hit at the box office and could end up as the biggest pay-per-view bout ever, with an estimated 50 million people watching in the United States alone.

Preliminary figures released by Showtime PPV showed the fight was tracking in the “midto high” 4 million range, threatening the 4.6 million record set by Mayweather’s 2015 fight with Manny Pacquiao. Showtime’s Stephen Espinoza said the number will likely rise as more firm figures come in. NHL: The Columbus Blue Jackets signed freeagent center Alexander Wennberg to a six-year, $29.4 million contract, locking up their top-line center through the 202223 season, with a cap hit of $4.9 million a year.

Left wing Thomas Vanek and the Vancouver Canucks agreed to a oneyear, $2 million deal.