Candace Parker was sickened after watching a video of Los Angeles’ previous playoff loss to San Antonio in 2008, so she was determined not to let it happen to the Sparks again.
Parker scored 32 points and Los Angeles beat the Silver Stars, 101-94, Saturday in San Antonio to complete a sweep of their Western Conference semifinals series.
Sophia Young had 23 points for San Antonio, which took three of four from Los Angeles during the regular season and lost the series opener, 93-86, in Los Angeles on Thursday night. Jia Perkins added 16 points, Becky Hammon had 15, Danielle Adams 12 and Shameka Christon 11.
Los Angeles will face the winner of the other West series between Minnesota and Seattle, which the defending champion Lynx lead 1-0 heading into today’s game at KeyArena.
Connecticut 75, at New York 62: Tina Charles had 25 points and 14 rebounds, and the Sun closed with a 14-0 run to advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
Asjha Jones scored 18 points and Kara Lawson had 15 to help Connecticut complete the two-game sweep. Lawson had two 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter, including a four-point play that started the final spurt and gave the Sun the lead for good.
Connecticut will play the winner of the Atlanta-Indiana series, which the Dream, leading 1-0, will try to wrap up at home today.
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