WNBA: Sun’s energy wears down tired Storm

Despite a poor shooting game, Connecticut still overcame a fatigued Seattle squad.

Katie Douglas scored 17 points, and the rested Sun beat the Storm 76-63 on Wednesday afternoon at Seattle.

The Sun had not played since Saturday in Los Angeles and had waited for the Storm in Seattle the past two days. In the meantime, the Storm played in Los Angeles on Tuesday in an 82-47 rout of the Sparks.

“The shot was not there, but the energy was still there. That always helps,” Connecticut coach Mike Thibault said. “Seattle might have been fatigued from their game (Tuesday), but you don’t feel sorry for them. If we have that little bit of extra energy, you have to use it to our advantage.”

Nykesha Sales added 15 points and Evina Maltsi added 11 in the balanced scoring for the Sun.

Lauren Jackson scored 24 points for the Storm, who had won four of their previous five. Iziane Castro Marques added 13 points.

Seattle played its fourth consecutive game without All-Star guard Sue Bird, who is recovering from knee surgery last week.

“A lot of them (Storm players) didn’t want to run with us today” Sales said.

Storm coach Anne Donovan said back-to-back games “are definitely difficult. With a game like tonight, I thought that we didn’t look too bad in there.”

Silver Stars 87, Mercury 77: At Phoenix, Becky Hammon scored 10 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter in her return from a sprained foot, lifting San Antonio past Phoenix.

Sophia Young scored 26 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Silver Stars, who have won four straight and 8 of 10 after starting the season 4-4.

Diana Taurasi had 27 points and nine rebounds for Phoenix, losers of two straight after winning four in a row. Penny Taylor added 19 points and 11 rebounds.