Storm survive big performance from Canada's Nurse to defeat Mercury

Epiphanny Prince scored 15 points, Katie Lou Samuelson matched her career high with 14, and the Seattle Storm beat the Phoenix Mercury 82-75 on Sunday.

Jewell Loyd's 3-pointer with 1:48 left gave the Storm (16-5) a six-point lead and Sue Bird's running bank shot was the dagger, making it 80-72 at 43.9 seconds.

Seattle goes into the Olympic break with the best record in the WNBA and will return from it to open a five-game road trip, with a 47-day stretch until their next home game on August 27 when they visit the Chicago Sky. Breanna Stewart and Bird added 13 points each.

Kia Nurse scored 28 points and had a career high seven 3-pointers for the Mercury (9-10). Skylar Diggins-Smith added 17 points and Brittney Griner scored 16.

WATCH | Canadian Kia Nurse shows out in loss to Storm:

Hamilton's Kia Nurse shines in loss to Storm

3 years ago

Duration 2:25

Kia Nurse scores 28 points, with a career-high seven 3-pointers, but her Phoenix Mercury fall to Seattle Storm 82-75.

In a pregame ceremony Samuelson, Loyd, Breanna Stewart and Bird were recognized for making USA Basketball team. Bird will be seeking her record fifth Olympic gold medal.

Lynx breeze past Sparks behind Napheesa Collier's 27 points

Napheesa Collier matched her career-high with 27 points and the Minnesota Lynx won their seventh straight with an 86-61 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday night.

The Lynx (12-7) shot 56 per cent from the field, solidifying their fourth-place standing in the WNBA as the league heads into the Olympic break.

Layshia Clarendon added 14 points and Sylvia Fowles had 10. Minnesota had an 18-point lead in the first half and extended to 83-55 on Bridget Carleton's 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter.

Carleton, of Chatham, Ont., finished the game with 10 points and two rebounds in 16 minutes of play.

Erica Wheeler and Brittney Sykes had 14 points each, and Amanda Zahui B added 10 for the Sparks (6-13).

Sun blow out Liberty

Jonquel Jones had 17 points, 17 rebounds and five assists as the Connecticut Sun routed the New York Liberty 71-54 on Sunday.

It was Jones' 10th double-double of the season for the Sun (14-6), who go into the Olympic break sitting in third place in the standings. Jasmine Thomas added 12 points and Briann January 10.

Connecticut played stellar defence, holding the Liberty to just 30 per cent shooting from the field. Kylee Shook made a career-high four 3-pointers and scored 16 points to lead New York (10-11). She made six of her eight shots while the rest of the team was just 11 for 48 from the field.

The Sun led 22-12 after the first quarter and pulled away for good in the third quarter with 16 straight points.

Michaela Onyenwere added 12 points and Jazmine Jones 10 for New York.

Aces cruise past Wings behind Wilson's double-double

A'ja Wilson had 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to help Las Vegas beat Dallas 95-79 on Sunday in the teams final game before the Olympic break.

Dearica Hamby also had 22 points and 12 boards for the Aces (15-6), who were missing Liz Cambage. The 6-foot-8 Australian is training with her country to get ready for the Tokyo Games.

The Aces used a 33-point second quarter to rally from a five-point deficit and take a 48-42 lead into halftime. Kelsey Plum was huge in that second quarter and finished the game with 16 points. Jackie Young had 17 for Las Vegas also, which put the game away in the third quarter.

Moriah Jefferson and Allisha Gray each scored 14 points to lead Dallas (9-12).

Fever down Dream to win 3rd straight

Teaira McCowan had 21 points and 14 rebounds to help the Indiana Fever beat the Atlanta Dream 79-68 on Sunday.

The Fever (4-16) won their third in a row after 12 straight losses.

Tiffany Mitchell added 14 points, Danielle Robinson scored 12, Kelsey Mitchell 11 and Jessica Breland 10.

Indiana pulled away with 14 straight points for a 77-61 lead on Robinson's basket with 3:53 left. Crystal Bradford stopped the run with 1 of 2 free throws and Aari McDonald's 3-pointer with 2:08 left was the first of the game by the Dream (6-13). Atlanta finished 1 of 13 from 3-point range.

Odyssey Sims had 20 points and Bradford added 14 for Atlanta, which opened the game on a 12-2 run.

WATCH | North Courts panel on why Canada fell short at Olympic qualifier:

What went wrong for Canada in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament?

3 years ago

Duration 14:48

Vivek, Meghan, and Jevohn discuss the recent FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament where the Canadians fell short in the semi finals.