Comets’ Swoopes Delivers

Sheryl Swoopes scored 14 of her team’s last 21 points to help the Houston Comets beat the Phoenix Mercury, 69-62, in front of 8,758 at Phoenix Saturday night.

Swoopes had 23 points and seven assists for the Comets (2-0), who won a game that featured the return of Cynthia Cooper to Phoenix.

Cooper, 40, resigned as the Mercury’s coach 10 games into last season. She left Phoenix without public comment after telling the front office she wanted to be a stay-at-home mother to her newborn twins.

Then the three-time WNBA scoring leader decided before training camp to resume her playing career with her former team.

Cooper, who had 11 points in Houston’s opener Thursday, didn’t make her first basket Saturday until 1 minute 22 seconds remained in the first half. She finished with nine points and six assists.

Anna DeForge had 12 points for the Mercury (0-2).

Minnesota 72, Sacramento 71 -- Katie Smith made a free throw with 8.7 seconds left to provide the winning margin for the Lynx in front of 10,967 at Minneapolis.

San Antonio 65, Seattle 56 -- Marie Ferdinand scored 20 points to help the Silver Stars rally to win before 15,593 at San Antonio.

From Associated Press