Smith Leads Charlotte to Game 1 Win

Charlotte Smith sat shivering in a cold whirlpool, aching from too many ailments to count, yet still able to savor the biggest game of her pro career.

Smith scored all 10 of her points in a six-minute stretch of the second half Thursday night, lifting the surging Charlotte Sting to a 53-46 victory over the Cleveland Rockers at Charlotte, N.C., in the first game of the WNBA’s best-of-three Eastern Conference semifinals.

“This was so huge, just a tremendous confidence booster for us and it took the wind right out of Cleveland’s sails,” she said, grimacing as she shifted her weight away from her strained hamstring and onto a sprained ankle.

Portland Fire guard Jackie Stiles was chosen the WNBA rookie of the year.

Stiles, who averaged 14.9 points, received 32 of 60 possible votes from sportswriters and sportscasters.