WNBA ROUNDUP
Sky 101, Mercury 87
Rookie Diamond DeShields tied a season best with 25 points, Courtney Vandersloot had 17 points and 11 assists and Chicago beat short-handed Phoenix on Wednesday in the final game before the All-Star break. Chicago led by 16 points early in the second half but Phoenix went on an 11-2 run to pull to 61-59. Chicago opened the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run, capped by DeShields’ offensive rebound and layup, and led by double figures for the final four minutes. Allie Quigley added 19 points, with five 3-pointers, for Chicago (9-17). Stefanie Dolson had 13 points for her sixth straight game in double figures. Chicago shot 67.7 percent from the field (21 of 32) in the first half en route to a 56-43 lead. DeShields made all seven of her first-quarter field goals for 15 points. DeWanna Bonner had 30 points and 13 rebounds for Phoenix (15-11), which has lost six of its last seven games. Phoenix was without Diana Taurasi, who did not play due to a suspension after reaching the WNBA’s technical foul limit of seven. Phoenix center Brittney Griner picked up her fourth foul with 9:26 remaining in the third quarter. After a review, she was given a flagrant 2 for an elbow to Dolson and was ejected. Last month, Griner was ejected after striking Dolson with a left hand to the face.
Late Tuesday Dream 81, Sparks 71
Angel McCoughtry scored 15 of her 19 points in the first half and Atlanta beat Los Angeles for its franchise-best eighth straight victory. Tiffany Hayes split a double team and made a floater in the lane to give Atlanta a 73-67 lead. On the Dream’s next possession, McCoughtry hit a turnaround jumper to cap a 13-2 run. Brittney Sykes added 13 points for Atlanta (16-9) and Hayes finished with 12 on 5-of-13 shooting. Elizabeth Williams also had 12 points. Chelsea Gray scored 18 points for Los Angeles (15-11), which has lost five straight games at home. Candace Parker had 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Nneka Ogwumike missed her third straight game with an illness and Alana Beard did not play due to a groin injury.
Brunson to sub for ill Nneka Ogwumike on All-Star team
Minnesota Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson has been picked as an AllStar Game injury replacement for Los Angeles forward Nneka Ogwumike, who’s been sidelined by an illness. The WNBA announced Wednesday that Brunson will join Candace Parker’s team, which will face Elena Della Donne’s team in the exhibition in Minnesota on Saturday. For the first time, the league had two captains select the squads, rather than pitting the Eastern Conference against the Western Conference. This will be the fifth All-Star Game appearance for Brunson, her fourth as a member of the Lynx. She has three teammates also playing in the showcase event on their home court: Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles and Maya Moore. This is a WNBA-record fourth time the Lynx have had four representatives.