McCray Leads Mystics, 59-56

Nikki McCray reached the 1,000-point plateau with a fourth-quarter free throw and her three-point basket with 2:11 to play in overtime Wednesday night broke a tie as the Washington Mystics defeated the New York Liberty, 59-56, before a crowd of 15,388 at Washington.

McCray finished with 20 points and Chamique Holdsclaw had 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Mystics, who have beaten the Liberty in all three meetings this season. Washington has won a franchise-best five consecutive games.

Minnesota 83, Utah 73--Katie Smith scored 27 points and Sonja Tate added 19, both career highs, to lead the Lynx in front of 10,104 at Minneapolis.

Tate started in place of leading scorer Brandy Reed, who did not play because of disciplinary reasons. Reed also sat out an earlier game for breaking team rules.

Phoenix 68, Detroit 57--Maria Stepanova had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Mercury before 11,352 at Phoenix.

The Mercury’s faint playoff hopes remained alive, but they must win their remaining five games and the Sparks would need to lose their final six for Phoenix to make it.

Basketball Notes

Chamique Holdsclaw of the Washington Mystics is expected to be chosen for the U.S. team that will be announced Saturday. Those players are slated to become the Olympic team that will compete in the 2000 Games in Sydney. Five players already have been chosen for the team by USA Basketball: Lisa Leslie, Nikki McCray, Ruthie Bolton-Holifield, Dawn Staley and Katie Smith. Jennifer Azzi also had been selected, but she withdrew in May.