PHOENIX (AP) — Penny Taylor hit two free throws with 1.5 seconds left to lift the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury to a 78-77 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in the league’s season opener Saturday.
Noelle Quinn had hit a 12-foot bank shot with 4.7 seconds left to give the Sparks a 77-76 lead after Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi made two free throws with 17.8 seconds left.
Taurasi scored five of her 14 points in the final five minutes and Candice Dupree led the Mercury with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Taylor added 16.
Candace Parker scored 24 points for the Sparks, including a key basket in the final minute, and grabbed 12 rebounds.
