CHICAGO (AP) — Breanna Stewart had 25 points and nine rebounds, Gabby Williams added 21 points and seven assists, and the Seattle Storm set a WNBA record with 37 assists in a 111-100 victory over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night.
Seattle also set a franchise record for scoring in any half with 66 first-half points, but the Storm only led by 11 points after Chicago closed on a 13-4 run. The 121 combined first-half points were the most in a first half this season in the WNBA.
Despite the loss, Chicago (25-9) is still in the driver’s seat to earn the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, sitting one game ahead of second-place Las Vegas, which beat Atlanta 97-90 later Tuesday night. Seattle (21-13) moved a game in front of Washington for the No. 4 seed, and the Storm hold the tiebreaker with the Mystics for homecourt in the first round.
Courtney Vandersloot led Chicago with 28 points.
ACES 97, DREAM 90
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kelsey Plum scored 18 of her 22 points in the second half, A’ja Wilson had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and the Aces held off the Dream.
Las Vegas (24-10) pulled within one game of first-place Chicago with two games to play, including hosting the Sky on Thursday. Atlanta (14-20) sits in eighth place, a half-game ahead of Minnesota for the final playoff spot.
Las Vegas opened the fourth quarter on a 16-4 run to build a 78-69 lead, but Atlanta responded by making a 3-pointer on three straight possessions to tie it at 78. Atlanta rookie Naz Hillmon completed a three-point play to cap the 14-4 run, giving Atlanta an 83-82 lead.
Erica Wheeler and Maya Caldwell each scored 17 points for Atlanta.
SUN 97, SPARKS 71
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jonquel Jones had 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Sun ease past the Sparks.
Connecticut (23-11) stayed a game behind second-place Las Vegas in the playoff chase. The Sun will stay in Los Angeles for a rematch on Thursday before closing out the regular season on Sunday against Minnesota. Los Angeles (13-21) sits in 11th, with an outside shot of passing three teams for the final playoff spot.
Los Angeles was undone by 20 turnovers and Connecticut’s 40-23 edge on the boards.
Brionna Jones added 14 points, Natisha Hiedeman scored 13 and Alyssa Thomas had 11 points, seven assists and four steals for Connecticut. DeWanna Bonner scored 10 points.
Connecticut led 53-32 at halftime behind 18 points and nine rebounds from Jonquel Jones. Los Angeles turned it over 13 times in the first half and got outrebounded 23-12.
Brittney Sykes scored 18 points and Nneka Ogwumike added 16 for Los Angeles.
