Even as Rival, Taurasi Still a Connecticut Hit

Diana Taurasi, the top pick of this year’s WNBA draft, scored 26 points to lead the Phoenix Mercury to a 65-58 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Saturday in her second pro game and first in the state where she led the University of Connecticut to three consecutive NCAA titles.

During introductions, Taurasi drew a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 9,341 in the Mohegan Sun Arena at Uncasville, Conn. Dozens of fans wore her familiar UConn jersey, and she drew cheers each time she scored en route to spoiling the hometown Sun’s season opener.

“There is no better state than Connecticut for basketball,” Taurasi said. “The crowds they get, people love the game. It’s like you’re family.”

Taurasi missed her first five shots, then found a comfort zone for Phoenix (1-1). She finished with eight-for-15 shooting, including five for seven on three-point attempts. She also had five rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block in 35 minutes.

“I didn’t want to go out there and make it seem like I was trying to force stuff,” Taurasi said.

Anna DeForge added 17 points and six assists for the Mercury.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin led Connecticut (0-1) with 14 points.

The game also marked the debut of Sun rookie Lindsay Whalen, the No. 4 overall pick in the draft. She came off the bench and made one of six shots in 23 minutes. All five of her points were scored in the last two minutes.

“We’ll figure it out,” Whalen said. “We’ve just got to fight.”

Charlotte 71, Washington 68 -- Allison Feaster made a 17-foot jump shot to put the Sting ahead, 69-68, with 1:08 left before 18,232 at Washington. Then the Mystics’ Chamique Holdsclaw missed a jump shot in the lane with 12 seconds left, and the Sting’s Charlotte Smith-Taylor made two free throws with 8.8 seconds to go.

Mystic rookie Alana Beard, the No. 2 overall draft pick, missed a potential tying three-point shot, in the final seconds. Beard was three-for-10 shooting and had 10 points in her WNBA debut.

Holdsclaw had a game-high 25 points, six rebounds and five steals in the season opener for Washington. Former NBA guard Michael Adams made his WNBA coaching debut for the Mystics.

Feaster scored 15 points, making four of eight shots, for Charlotte (1-1).

Sting rookie Nicole Powell, the No. 3 overall draft pick, was scoreless in 13 minutes, missing all four of her shots.

Detroit 73, San Antonio 60 -- Cheryl Ford had career highs with 21 points and 22 rebounds to lead the Shock (1-0) over the Silver Stars (1-1) before 10,506 at San Antonio. “I don’t care what league you’re in -- that’s a great stat line,” Detroit Coach Bill Laimbeer said of Ford, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds by halftime.

Minnesota 69, Sacramento 61 -- Katie Smith scored 20 of her game-high 22 points in the second half to lead the Lynx before 17,317 at Sacramento’s home opener. Trailing, 57-54, Minnesota (1-1) ran off eight points to take a 62-57 lead with 3:05 left. DeMya Walker’s 19 points led the Monarchs (1-1).

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Early Returns

Some of the performances in early games by the WNBA’s heralded rookie class:

* Diane Taurasi, Phoenix -- The No. 1 pick lived up to billing with 48 points in first two games, including eight-for-13 three-point shooting.

* Nicole Ohlde, Minnesota -- Scored 16 points in season opener, then held her own with eight points, six rebounds against Sacramento’s Yolanda Griffith.

* Agnieszka Bibrzycka, San Antonio -- After going scoreless in Silver Stars’ opener, the European player of the year scored 13 points against Detroit.

* Alana Beard, Washington -- Scored 10 points on three-for-10 shooting, but missed a potential game-tying three-point shot in final seconds of Mystic opener.

* Nicole Powell, Charlotte -- The No. 3 pick went scoreless for the Sting on Saturday after scoring eight in season opener.