Stewart leads Liberty past Sun 89-81 in Jonquel Jones’ return to Connecticut #Stewart #leads #Liberty #Sun #Jonquel #Jones #return #Connecticut

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Breanna Stewart scored 24 points and Jonquel Jones added 14 points and 11 rebounds in her return to Connecticut as the New York Liberty beat the Sun 89-81 on Tuesday night.

The victory moved the Liberty into a tie with Connecticut atop the Commissioner Cup standings in the Eastern Conference. Each team has one game left although New York has the tiebreaker having swept the two games against the Sun.

Las Vegas has nearly wrapped up the Western Conference slot, sitting at 6-0.

Minnesota Lynx guard Diamond Miller, right, celebrates next to forward Napheesa Collier (24) after a timeout called by the Seattle Storm during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Napheesa Collier had a career-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, Diamond Miller added 18 points in her return from an injury and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Seattle Storm 104-93.

FILE - Sunrise Christian's Matas Buzelis (13) plays against Montverde during a high school basketball game at the Hoophall Classic, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in Springfield, Mass. Buzelis is positioned to be one of the top NBA draft prospects for next year. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)

This year’s draft class showed there are several ways to get into the NBA with top picks from Europe, the G League, Overtime Elite and the college ranks.

Seattle Storm's Ezi Magbegor is fouled Connecticut Sun's Alyssa Thomas (25) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, June 20, 2023, in Seattle. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times via AP)

DeWanna Bonner scored 20 points to move into 10th on the WNBA scoring list, Alyssa Thomas secured her fifth career triple-double and the Connecticut Sun beat the Seattle Storm 85-79.

In this handout provided by Overtime Elite, Ausar Thompson, left, and Amen Thompson of the City Reapers celebrate after an Overtime Elite Finals basketball game on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at OTE Arena in Atlanta. The 6-foot-7 guards out of Overtime Elite are projected in the AP mock draft to be selected early Thursday night, which could make them the first set of twins taken in the top 10 of the same NBA draft class. (Adam Hagy/Overtime Elite via AP)

The Thompson twins share a middle name and a silky smooth basketball game. Amen and Ausar will also share the stage at the NBA draft this week.

Alyssa Thomas led Connecticut (12-4) with 11 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for her fifth career triple-double. She’s now done it in consecutive games and three times in the last seven days. Thomas is the all-time record holder in the category. DiJonai Carrington scored a career-high 23 points to lead Connecticut.

WINGS 77, MERCURY 62

PHOENIX (AP) — Arike Ogunbowale scored 23 points, Natasha Howard had 19 points and 10 rebounds and Dallas beat Phoenix for the Mercury’s sixth straight double-digit loss.

Howard sank a wide open 3-pointer with two seconds left in the third quarter for a 56-51 lead. After Phoenix got within 63-60 with 7:30 remaining in the fourth, Dallas closed on a 14-2 run — including 12 unanswered points.

Satou Sabally secured her 10th double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds for Dallas (7-8), which has won three straight in the series. Sabally also had a career-high six assists.

Brittney Griner scored 20 points for Phoenix (2-11). Michaela Onyenwere added 12 points and Diana Taurasi was held to six points on 2-of-7 shooting. Sophie Cunningham (back) and Megan Gustafson (concussion) did not play.

LYNX 104, STORM 93

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Napheesa Collier had a career-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, Diamond Miller added 18 points in her return from an injury and Minnesota beat Seattle.

Collier scored 24 in the second half to help the Lynx reach 100-plus points for the first time this season.

Kayla McBride also scored 18 points for Minnesota (5-9). Rookie Dorka Juhasz had 10 points and 12 rebounds for her first double-double. Miller, who missed the last eight games due to an ankle injury, was 8 of 13 from the field in 31 minutes.

Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb each scored 20 points for Seattle (4-10). Jewell Loyd and Ivana Dojkic added 14 points apiece. Whitcomb made six of Seattle’s 13 3-pointers.