Phoenix beats defending champ Sacramento

Cappie Pondexter and Diana Taurasi each scored 30 points to lead the Phoenix Mercury to their first win of the season, a 90-76 victory Tuesday night over the defending champion Sacramento Monarchs.

Pondexter keyed a 14-5 run with eight points to start the second half, helping the Mercury to a 63-41 lead. The Monarchs never got closer than 16.

Yolanda Griffith scored 21 points and had seven rebounds to lead the Monarchs.

Phoenix made 30 of 48 (62.5 percent) field goals through three quarters after failing to shoot better than 46 percent in its first four games. The Mercury finished the game 34 of 64.

Mystics 93, Comets 79: Alana Beard scored 22 points, Chasity Melvin added 14 and Washington made all 18 free throws in a victory over visiting Houston, which played without reigning MVP Sheryl Swoopes.

Nikki Teasley matched her season high with 11 points and had a season-high 11 assists for the Mystics, who moved into a tie with Connecticut atop the Eastern Conference standings.