Leslie provides spark for L.A.

Lisa Leslie scored 17 points to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 79-67 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Saturday in San Antonio.

Laura Macchi had 14 points, Nikki Teasley 13 and Tamika Whitmore 11 for Los Angeles, winners of five straight games. The first-place Sparks are two games ahead of Seattle in the Western Conference.

The last-place Silver Stars (6-20) dropped their sixth straight. They were led by Agnieszka Bibrzycka’s 16 points and LaToya Thomas’ 13. Jessie Hicks had a season-high 12, and Adrienne Goodson added 10.

Los Angeles (19-7) owns the best record in the WNBA heading into the monthlong break for the Olympic games.

Liberty 80, Sun 66: At New York, Becky Hammon scored 24 points and Crystal Robinson added 17 to lead New York to a win over Connecticut at Radio City Music Hall.

Nykesha Sales led the Sun with 18 points, and Taj McWilliams-Franklin added 15 points and seven rebounds.

Comets 62, Fever 54: At Houston, Tina Thompson had 31 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Comets to a win over slumping Indiana.

Sheryl Swoopes added 12 points for the Comets, who did not make a field goal in the final 10:52, but sank 15 of 20 free throws down the stretch.

Monarchs 62, Sting 61: At Sacramento, Calif., Tangela Smith scored 13 points for the Monarchs, who rallied late to defeat Charlotte.

Kara Lawson made a pull-up jumper off the fast break, putting Sacramento ahead for good at 60-59 with 2:33 left.