Sun Rises to Finals

The Connecticut Sun are heading to the WNBA Finals for first time.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin’s 18 points and nine rebounds Sunday at Uncasville, Conn., led the Sun to a 60-57 victory over the New York Liberty for a two-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals.

“I thought she kind of willed us to win between her rebounding and her help on defense,” Sun Coach Mike Thibault said of McWilliams-Franklin.

Katie Douglas extended Connecticut’s lead to 59-54 by making all four of her free throws down the stretch. New York had three turnovers in the final seconds but countered with a three-point shot from Elena Baranova with 1.7 seconds left. Lindsay Whalen answered with a free throw with 0.6 of a second left, and New York was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer.

“Their defense was good, but I thought our execution was poor at the end,” Liberty interim coach Pat Coyle said.

Seattle 66, Sacramento 54 -- Lauren Jackson scored 23 points to lead the host Storm, which tied the series at one game apiece. Game 3 is Tuesday night in Seattle. Seattle led by 10 with 3:07 left, but Sacramento closed to within four points, at 58-54, with 1:03 left before Seattle pulled away.