WNBA Recap: Shock lose close one to Sky

The Olympics are over and done with and the stars of the WNBA are back in action. We're now heading towards the homestretch in the playoff run.

Chicago Sky 82 - Detroit Shock 81- A couple of Candice Dupree free throws late made the difference for the Sky. Dupree led the way for the Sky with 24 points. Jia Perkins added 15 points for the Sky. Katie Smith led Detroit with 23 points.

Connecticut Sun 80 - Seattle Storm 76- The Sun have now won six straight games and now hold a two game lead over Detroit. Asjha Jones led the way for the Sun with 20 points. Sue Bird of the Storm led all scorers with 24 points.

WNBA Recap: Detroit loses fourth straight entering Olympic break

San Antonio Silver Stars 76 - Detroit Shock 64- The Shock have now lost four straight games and have finished the month of July 4-6. The Shock are now in second place in the Eastern Conference. They're hurting and they don't have an answer to this problem. This break could not have come at a better time for the Shock. Meanwhile, the Silver Stars maintain their lead in the Western Conference.

Connecticut Sun 82 - Washington Mystics 60- The Sun now own full possession of first place in the Eastern Conference. Asjha Jones' 27 points helped give the Sun their third straight win. The Sun now go into this Olympic break with the lead over the Shock.

Seattle Storm 77 - Sacramento Monarchs 71- The Storm remain a half game back in the West with their win last night. Sue Bird's 24 points made the difference for the Storm in the game.

Los Angeles Sparks 92 - Minnesota Lynx 84- The game went to overtime, but it was the Sparks who came out in the end. The Sparks outscored the Lynx 8-0 in OT. Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie combined for 46 points and 22 rebounds in the Sparks' win. Seimone Augustus scored 29 points for the Lynx. Charde Houston added 15 points for the Lynx. The Sparks needed that win and are back in fourth place in the West.

There are no games again until next month. I hope to have a US Basketball preview either this week or next week.

Photo Courtesy: NBA Entertainment/Getty Images

WNBA Recap: Lieberman returns to game, Shock still lose

Houston Comets 79 - Detroit Shock 61- How many 50-year-olds do you know that play pro basketball? You can count one if you know Nancy Lieberman. The basketball hall of famer signed a week long contract to fill the void for the Shock as they head into the Olympic break. In nine minutes of action, Lieberman scored zero points, but had two assists. Deanna Nolan scored 23 points for the Shock in the loss.

In other news, the WNBA handed down suspensions for the scuffle in Detroit the other night. Plenette Pierson received the stiffest punishment when she was suspended for four games. Assistant coach Rich Mahorn was suspended two games, as was Shannon Bobbitt and Murriel Page from the Sparks. Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker each received one game.

Connecticut Sun 87 - Los Angeles Sparks 61- Without Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie and DeLisha Milton Jones, the Sparks weren't able to score against the Sun. Lindsay Whalen of the Sun led all scorers with 22 points. With the Shock's loss and the Sun's win, the Shock's lead in the East is now down to a half game. A win in D.C. could give the Sun the lead in the Eastern Conference, if the Shock lose to San Antonio. Add in a win against Indiana and the Sun will be in good shape going into the Olympic break.

San Antonio Silver Stars 78 - Chicago Sky 67- Sophia Young's 19 points were enough to give the Silver Stars their 17th win of the season. Candice Dupree of the Sky scored 20 points.

Minnesota Lynx 84 - Indiana Fever 80- Seimone Augustus' 25 points were enough to give the Lynx the victory. Ebony Hoffman and Tamika Catchings each scored 17 points for the Fever.

WNBA Recap: Ford done for the season

One night after the chaos at the Palace of Auburn Hills, it was announced on Wednesday that Shock star Cheryl Ford was done for the season after tearing her ACL in the game against the Sparks on Tuesday night.

This couldn't have come at a worse time for the Shock as they've lost two straight games and their lead in the Eastern Conference is down to 1.5 games. They have two games left and could potentially lose their lead in the East, if they lose both games. WNBA officials are looking over the tape to determine what happened. Rest assure, suspensions will be handed down.

New York Liberty 80 - Washington Mystics 74- Tiffany Jackson scored 14 points off the bench to lead the Liberty to just their fifth win on the road. The Liberty are now just a half game behind the Sun for second place in the East. Taj McWilliams-Franklin of the Mystics led all scorers with 19 points.

WNBA Recap: Scuffle ends night for Sparks, Shock coach

Los Angeles Sparks 84 - Detroit Shock 81- The Sparks stopped the Shock from coming back to win. However, the big story happened in the final seconds of the game. After Shock star Cheryl Ford fouled Sparks star Candace Parker, Parker got tangled with Shock forward Plenette Pierson, which started a scuffle for both sides. In the scuffle, Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn reportedly knocked down Sparks center Lisa Leslie.

Mahorn left the bench to play peacemaker and the contact with Leslie appeared to be accidental, I can't say with certainty. Mahorn, Parker, Pierson and Delisha Milton-Jones were all ejected from the game. This is without a doubt a serious matter that will be dealt with. Suspensions will be handed down and from the sounds of it, a few of the players in last nights game will most likely be done until after the Olympics.

Here's the video for you to judge for yourself.



Houston Comets 94 - Phoenix Mercury 92- Believe it or not, there were other games going on last night. Diana Taurasi's 31 points weren't enough for the Mercury to get past the Comets. Tina Thompson led the Comets with 19 points.

Seattle Storm 76 - Minnesota Lynx 73- Sue Bird scored 22 points for the Storm, who have won their fourth game on the road this season. Charde Houston scored 16 points off the bench for the Lynx. The Storm are now tied with the San Antonio Silver Stars for first place in the Western Conference.

WNBA Recap: Perkins 26 points not enough to stop the Shock

Detroit Shock 66 - Chicago Sky 63- The Shock increased their lead over the Sun in the Eastern Conference to 2.5 games. The Shock had a 39-22 lead at halftime, but the Sky cut it down. In the end, the Sky fell short. Cheryl Ford scored 14 points for the Shock. Jia Perkins of the Sky scored 26 points on the night, leading all scorers. The Shock remain the only team in the league that is unbeaten at home.

Atlanta Dream 81 - Indiana Fever 77- The Dream are now 3-19. Iziane Castro Marques scored 24 points on the night for the Dream, while Betty Lennox added 16 points. Tamika Catchings scored 18 points off the bench for the Fever.

WNBA Recap: Mercury score 99, Fever and Mystics combine for 98

Washington Mystics 50 - Indiana Fever 48- These two teams combined to make 41 baskets the entire night. Both teams shot under 35% for the night. Both teams also combined for 39 turnovers. At halftime, the score was 29-14, Fever's lead. Unfortunately for the Fever, they scored 19 points in the second half, while the Mystics scored 36. Mystics forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin led all scorers with 20 points. Fever forward Ebony Hoffman scored 16.

Phoenix Mercury 99 - Houston Comets 94- While the game in Washington was the lowest scoring of the night, last night's game in Phoenix was the highest scoring. Mercury star Diana Taurasi scored 30 points, including five three pointers. Cappie Pondexter also scored 22 for the Mercury. Tina Thompson led the Comets with 23 points.

Detroit Shock 88 - Connecticut Sun 82- The Shock are now in first place in the Eastern Conference. Kara Braxton came up big off the bench for the Shock, scoring 23 points. Katie Smith scored 17 points for the Shock. Asjha Jones of the Sun scored 21 points. Sun fans do not fear, the season still has a ways to go.

Seattle Storm 79 - Sacramento Monarchs 64- The Storm won a huge game on the road, their fourth straight win. Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird combined for 33 points in the Storm's win last night. The Monarchs scored only 32% from the field. Crystal Kelly led the Monarchs with 12 points.

San Antonio Silver Stars 83 - New York Liberty 79- The Silver Stars have maintained their lead in the Western Conference. Becky Hammon of the Silver Stars scored 27 points, while Sophia Young scored 23. Shameka Christon led the Liberty also scored 27 points.

WNBA Recap: Dream remain winless

Detroit Shock 100 - Atlanta Dream 92- The Dream are now 0-15. It's not a good start for this young franchise. Hopefully they can use this season as a learning experience and move from there. Atlanta is a good sports town. If the Dream can win one game this season, they'll be okay. Kara Braxton of the Shock scored 26 points off the bench.

Phoenix Mercury 87 - Connecticut Sun 80- The Mercury is rising in Phoenix (All pun intended). They've won five of six, including three straight games and are now at .500 for the season. Mercury forward Diana Taurasi led all scorers with 25 points, including making 5-of-11 from beyond the arc. The Mercury now have a chance to keep the win streak alive and tighten the race in the Western Conference, when they take on the Dream on Tuesday night.

Seattle Storm 64 - Washington Mystics 49- This was a night where there would be no offense and all defense. Both teams shot poorly. The Mystics made only 19 field goals in the game, while the Storm made 23 field goals. Alana Beard of the Mystics led all scorers with 16 points.

WNBA Report: Triple overtime on draft night

While the NBA Draft was going on across the street, the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever battled it out for four full quarters and three overtimes. In the end, the Liberty won the game, 102-96. Janel McCarville stepped it up big time for the Liberty, scoring 31 points. Shameka Christon scored 23 for the Liberty. Tammy Sutton-Brown led the Fever with 23 points.

Minnesota Lynx 80 - Sacramento Monarchs 76

Seimone Augustus scored 23 points as she guided the Lynx to their second straight win. Candace Wiggins scored 17 for the Lynx coming off the bench. The win gives the Lynx some breathing room as they continue to hold down the third place in the Western Conference.

Detroit Shock 70 - Connecticut Sun 61

From start to finish, it was all about the Shock. The bench came up strong for the Shock, scoring a combined 29 points. Deanna Nolan led the Shock with 13 points for the evening. Asjha Jones of the Sun led all scorers with 14 points. The Shock's win puts them in a first place tie with the Sun in the Eastern Conference.