Storm Beats Sparks in Exhibition Finale

The Seattle Storm avoided a winless exhibition season by surprising the Sparks, 75-69, Friday night at the Great Western Forum in the exhibition finale for both clubs. The Sparks could have finished 3-0 in the exhibition season with a victory, and Coach Michael Cooper wasn’t happy with the result.

“I’m disappointed at the way we came out, letting them take us out of our offense after we’d won two road games,” he said.

It was more of a dressed-up scrimmage than a game, played before a crowd of 2,718. The Sparks had five newcomers on the court with six minutes to play, when they trailed, 59-50, and Cooper replaced them with more newcomers as he prepared to make his final roster cuts Sunday.

The roster maximum is 11 players but Cooper will have to trim only three of his 16. Veteran Allison Feaster (hamstring pull) and rookie forward Carly Funicello (ankle sprain) will be put on the injured-reserve list, Cooper said.

The Sparks’ regular-season opener is Wednesday against the Utah Starzz at the Forum.