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Sparks, Shock fall by wayside

Sacramento Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro, left, muscles her way around Los Angeles Sparks guard Nikki Teasley. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Sacramento Monarchs guard Ticha Penicheiro, left, muscles her way around Los Angeles Sparks guard Nikki Teasley. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Tangela Smith, DeMya Walker and Kara Lawson each scored 17 points Tuesday night to lead the Sacramento Monarchs over the Los Angeles Sparks 73-58 and into WNBA Western Conference finals.

Yolanda Griffith added 14 points and eight rebounds for the visiting Monarchs, who won the best-of-3 series 2-1. Sacramento will face the Seattle Storm on Friday.

Liberty 66, Shock 64: At New York, Bethany Donaphin hit a turnaround jumper with .5 seconds remaining to lift New York to a victory over defending WNBA champion Detroit and into the Eastern Conference finals.

New York will play the winner of the Washington-Connecticut semifinal. The conference final starts Friday.

Shock forward Swin Cash underwent successful surgery on Monday to repair a torn ligament in her left knee. Cash was Detroit’s leading scorer.

Bird’s status up in air

Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird will need surgery on her broken nose, and her status is uncertain for Game 1 of the WNBA Western Conference finals that begins Friday.

Bird broke her nose during Seattle’s 64-54 victory over Minnesota on Monday. Doctors determined she will need surgery to reposition the nose, team spokesman Liam O’Mahoney said.

Bird will be “day to day” for the conference finals, but O’Mahoney said Bird, with doctors’ approval, could play before surgery by wearing a protective mask.

Bird was injured less than three minutes into Seattle’s playoff win against Minnesota. The victory advanced the Storm to the conference finals for the first time.

Taurasi wins top rookie award

Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury was a runaway selection as the WNBA’s rookie of the year.

Taurasi is the second No. 1 overall draft selection to win the award. Washington’s Chamique Holdsclaw won in 1999.

The point guard was fourth in the league in scoring (17.0), 10th in assists (3.9) and 14th in minutes played (33.2), while also averaging 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals.

Taurasi received 42 votes from the national media panel, while Alana Beard of Washington got four and Nicole Ohlde of Minnesota got two.