Starzz’s Stinging Defeat Puts Phoenix in Playoffs

Angie Braziel scored with 2.8 seconds left and the Charlotte Sting edged Utah, 84-82, Saturday night, eliminating the Starzz from WNBA playoff contention.

Andrea Stinson led Charlotte with 23 points, and Tracy Reid scored a season-high 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting as the Sting (8-22) ended a four-game losing streak.

Jennifer Azzi missed an off-balance three-pointer at the buzzer for the Starzz (16-14), whose loss secured the final Western Conference playoff spot for Phoenix.

Utah rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit to take a 78-76 lead on Korie Hlede’s three-pointer with 2:22 remaining. Charlotte bounced back with three-pointers from Dawn Staley and Charlotte Smith to go ahead 82-78.

The Starzz cut the lead to two on Adrienne Goodson’s layup with 15 seconds remaining. Staley, who had a game-high 10 assists, turned the ball over on the Sting’s next possession, and another Goodson layup tied the score with nine seconds remaining.

Natalie Williams led Utah with 23 points and nine rebounds. Goodson added 22 points and nine rebounds for the Starzz.

Around the WNBA

Suzie McConnell Serio, the Cleveland Rockers’ starting point guard, is retiring at the end of the season. A news release issued Saturday said McConnell Serio and the team would not comment until a news conference today before the team’s final regular-season home game, against the Washington Mystics. McConnell Serio has started all 29 games this year, averaging 5.1 points. The 5-foot-5 guard helped the U.S. basketball team win a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics.