PHOENIX (AP) — Candice Dupree scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Phoenix Mercury to a 106-93 win over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Thursday night in the first game of the best-of-three Western Conference semifinals.
Game 2 is Saturday in San Antonio with a deciding game, if needed, on Monday in Phoenix.
Dupree, a fifth-year forward acquired in the offseason by the Mercury from Chicago, was playing in her first WNBA postseason game.
Penny Taylor added 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Mercury while WNBA leading scorer Diana Taurasi was held to 14 points but added 10 assists.
Becky Hammon led the Silver Stars with 19 points while Sophia Young added 16 points and nine rebounds, although she was nearly shutout in the first half.
