Diggins-Smith piles up points, Griner dunks as Mercury use OT to beat Sky again
Reigning MVP A'Ja Wilson sparks late Aces run to light up Liberty
Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 28 points, Brittney Griner had 16 points, including a dunk in the third quarter and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Chicago Sky 77-74 in overtime on Thursday night.
Phoenix pulled away in overtime, going on an 10-2 run with scoring from four different players. Diggins-Smith went 1 of 2 from the line with 8.1 seconds left for a three-point lead and Courtney Vandersloot missed a 3-pointer as time expired.
Canada's Kia Nurse, who hit a game-winning 3-pointer from midcourt against the Sky on Tuesday, added 14 points for Phoenix (5-3). Megan Walker had 11 points.
Diggins-Smith made three free throws, including one after a technical foul, with 37.6 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 65. Chicago's Diamond DeShields missed a layup and Phoenix called a timeout at 23.7. Diggins-Smith dribbled down the clock and got into the lane but her shot rolled off with 2.3 left and Vandersloot didn't hit the rim as time expired.
SHE TOLD US SHE WAS FEELING SPRINGY 🗣️ <a href="https://t.co/MUidJyIW7l">pic.twitter.com/MUidJyIW7l</a>
—@PhoenixMercuryKahleah Copper led Chicago (2-6) with 14 points and Vandersloot had eight points and nine assists. Allie Quigley and Stefanie Dolson both played for the first time since the season opener after helping the U.S. qualify for the 3x3 at the Tokyo Olympics. Dolson, who battle foul trouble, finished with 12 points in 15 minutes and Quigley added eight points.
WATCH | Nurse's buzzer-beater sends Mercury past Sky on Tuesday:
Wilson leads Aces past Liberty
A'ja Wilson had 30 points and 13 rebounds and the Las Vegas Aces used a late run to beat the New York Liberty 94-82 on Thursday night.
The Aces led 80-79 with 3:59 left after New York had rallied from a 19-point first half deficit. After a timeout, Las Vegas took over.
Wilson hit a basket and then got to the line for two more points. While she was on the foul line, Liz Cambage was called for a technical foul and New York converted the free throw. That was the team's only point until Betnijah Laney hit a jumper with 8.3 seconds left and the game well out of reach as Las Vegas had scored 14 of 15 to take command.
Betnijah Laney led New York (5-3) 23 points. She has reached 20 or more points in all eight games this season.
Las Vegas built a 19-point lead in the first half behind Wilson before Rebecca Allen got hot for the Liberty. She scored 14 consecutive points for New York to avoid this game becoming a rout by the half.
Las Vegas led 52-44 at the break as Wilson had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists in the opening 20 minutes.
Kelsey Plum returned to the Aces after missing six games while helping the U.S. qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in 3x3.
It's the first time that the Olympics will have 3x3 basketball in it.
Plum entered midway through the first quarter and picked up two quick fouls. She finished with four points, three rebounds and two assists.
WATCH | Potential timeline of WNBA coming to Canada:
Sparks destroy Fever
Kristi Toliver scored 22 points, Bria Holmes had 14 points and seven rebounds, and the short-handed Los Angeles Sparks eased past the Indiana Fever 98-63 on Thursday night.
Los Angeles (3-3) was without leading scorer Nneka Ogwumike (knee) and Chiney Ogwumike (knee).
Te'a Cooper added 15 points, Erica Wheeler had 14 and Nia Coffey 13 for the Sparks. Coffey, Toliver and Wheeler each made a 3-pointer as Los Angeles was 14 of 28 from distance.
Toliver and Holmes combined for 25 first-half points to help Los Angeles build a 48-25 lead. The Fever made just 10 of 39 field goals (25.6 per cent).
Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana (1-9) with 15 points, and Jantel Lavender and Tiffany Mitchell each added 10 points. Indiana, which has lost five straight games, turned it over 18 times and shot 34.3 per cent.
