SEATTLE (AP)—Candace Parker scored 22 points and keyed a second-quarter run that led the Los Angeles Sparks over the Seattle Storm 75-64 Sunday in the deciding third game of the WNBA Western Conference semifinals.
It was the second straight year the Sparks eliminated the Storm in the opening round by winning Game 3 at Seattle. Los Angeles bounced back from Friday night’s 75-74 loss in Game 2, in which the Storm scored five points in the final 14 seconds.
The Sparks advanced to face the Phoenix-San Antonio winner for the conference championship. The Mercury and Silver Stars play Game 3 Monday night in Phoenix.
Parker scored six points during an early 13-0 burst that gave the Sparks a big cushion.
Lisa Leslie added 13 points for the Sparks, and extended her WNBA career. The three-time MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist said prior to the season that this would be her last year.
Tina Thompson had 12 points for Los Angeles.
Swin Cash led Seattle with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Sue Bird had 15 points for the Storm, who have made five straight first-round playoff exits since winning the championship in 2004.
The loss ended the career of Seattle guard Shannon Johnson, who announced her retirement last Friday after 10 WNBA seasons and a spot on the 2004 U.S. gold medal Olympic team.
Just as they did in last Wednesday’s series-opening 70-63 victory in Los Angeles, the Sparks led from start to finish.
Seattle missed its first seven shots of the game and hit just 6 of 30 (20 percent) through the first two quarters while Los Angeles built a lead that reached 18 points.
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