Storm 75, Sky 60
The odds of the Sky securing the WNBA's final available playoff berth got considerably longer with a Tuesday loss in Seattle.
The host Storm (14-18) handed the Sky a costly setback as Ann Wauters led a balanced attack with 16 points in the 75-60 Seattle victory at Key Arena.
Chicago remained one game behind New York for fourth place and the last Eastern Conference post-season spot with just two regular-season games to play. The Liberty lost 77-66 to San Antonio earlier Tuesday, giving the Sky (13-19) an opening to move up.
Epiphanny Prince scored a game-high 21 points while Shay Murphy added 12 for the Chicago. Katie Smith collected 13 points, Ewelina Kobryn had 12 and Tina Thompson added 10 for the Storm.
Seattle, which had already clinched a Western Conference playoff berth, never trailed as it opened a double-digit advantage late in the first quarter on the way to a 26-13 lead through one quarter and 46-28 by halftime.
Thompson led the Storm with 10 first-half points. Prince had 11 for the Sky, who shot just 31.6 percent (12-of-28) from the field.
Seattle opened a 60-32 lead with 4:41 left in the third quarter, but the Sky responded with a 15-6 surge the rest of the way and cut the deficit to 66-47 entering the final 10 minutes. But the Sky trailed by as many as 21 points in the final quarter and never got closer than 15 the rest of the way.
Chicago returns home Thursday to face Atlanta, while East rival New York is at Tulsa. Seattle hosts San Antonio on Friday.
