Charles, Atkins help Mystics hand Liberty 1st loss of season
Atlanta Dream defeat winless Indiana Fever 83-79
Tina Charles scored 34 points against her former team, Ariel Atkins added 25 points and the Washington Mystics beat the New York Liberty 101-72 on Friday night.
Shavonte Zellous scored 11 points off the bench and Natasha Cloud had eight assists for Washington (1-2), which scored 23 points off turnovers. Charles also grabbed nine rebounds and Erica McCall had 13.
Atkins made all three of her 3-point attempts in the first quarter to help Washington build a 29-15 lead. Charles had 18 points and seven rebounds in the first half, and Atkins added 17 points for a 52-46 advantage.
Sydney Wiese made a step-back 3-pointer, capping Washington's 15-5 run to open the third quarter, for a 67-51 lead. The Mystics opened the fourth on a 14-0 run to seal it.
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Betnijah Laney led New York (3-1) with 20 points. Kylee Shook scored 11 points and Sabrina Ionescu added 10.
Laney scored 16 of her 18 first-half points in the second quarter.
Dream earn 1st win of season
Chennedy Carter scored 23 points, Courtney Williams added 16 and Atlanta beat the Indiana Fever 83-79 on Friday night for the Dream's first victory of the season.
Tiffany Hayes had 14 points for Atlanta (1-2). Williams made four of the Dream's 11 3-pointers.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 19 points for Indiana (0-4). Jessica Breland had 15 points and 16 rebounds, and Bernadett Hatar scored 12 points. Teaira McCowan became the eighth fastest WNBA player to reach 500 career rebounds, doing so in just 60 games.
Hayes and Carter each scored 12 points in the first half and Atlanta led 41-34 at the break. Shekinna Stricklen scored nine points in just five second-half minutes for Atlanta, making 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions late in the third for a 57-55 lead.
Connecticut defeats Phoenix 84-67
Jonquel Jones had 16 points and 11 rebounds, DeWanna Bonner added 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists against her former team and the Connecticut Sun beat the Phoenix Mercury 84-67 on Friday night.
Bonner returned to Phoenix as a visitor for the first time after playing the first nine years of her WNBA career with the Mercury. Bonner, who arrived in Connecticut as a free agent last season, had 27 points in the Sun's home victory over Phoenix on Sunday.
Jasmine Thomas scored 15 points and Natisha Hiedeman had 12 for Connecticut (4-0).
Skylar Diggins-Smith led Phoenix (2-2) with 20 points and Diana Taurasi added 13. Brittney Griner was held to six points, on 3-of-11 shooting, with five rebounds and four blocks.
Connecticut scored the first 11 points of the game and made five 3-pointers in the first quarter. The Sun finished 10 of 26 from 3-point range.
Gray leads Aces past Sparks
Chelsea Gray had 18 points and six assists, A'ja Wilson had 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Los Angeles Sparks 97-69 on Friday night.
Las Vegas took a 56-36 lead at halftime after Dearica Hamby made two free throws with 2.8 seconds left. Hamby had 13 points, Jackie Young added 12 and Wilson scored 10 points in the first half as the Aces shot 57.9% from the field.
Young and Hamby each scored 17 points and Liz Cambage had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Las Vegas (2-1). Kelsey Plum did not play.
Nneka Ogwumike scored 19 points for Los Angeles (0-2). Chiney Ogwumike added 11 points and Kristi Toliver scored nine points with five assists.
