Storm lose, miss playoffs for first time since 2003

LOS ANGELES – Candace Parker scored 24 points, Kristi Toliver had 20 and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Seattle Storm 77-65 on Friday night.

Jenna O’ Hea scored a career-high 16 points for the Storm (12-21), who were eliminated from the playoffs before tip-off when San Antonio defeated Minnesota. It is the first time Seattle has missed the playoffs since 2003. The Storm rested most of their starters as Sue Bird, Camille Little and Tanisha Wright did not play in the second half.

The Sparks (16-17) are a game ahead of San Antonio for third place in the Western Conference with one game remaining. Los Angeles can clinch third with a win in its regular-season finale today at West-leading Phoenix. San Antonio, which owns the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Sparks, finishes Sunday against Chicago.

The Sparks shot a season-high 61 percent.