Tanisha Wright’s shot gives Storm win over Sparks 76-75, perfect home record

Wright’s shot gives Storm win over Sparks 76-75

SEATTLE — Tanisha Wright hit a 13-foot baseline jumper with 50 seconds left to give the Seattle Storm a 76-75 win over the Los Angeles Sparks in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday night.

The Storm finished 17-0 at home, a league record. The Sparks were 16-0 in 2001. The Storm also tied the 2001 Sparks for most regular season victories.

Camille Little scored a career-high 22 and Lauren Jackson added 21 to lead Seattle (28-6), which won its third straight.

Tina Thompson scored 20, Noelle Quinn had 18 and DeLisha Milton-Jones had 15 for Los Angeles (13-21).

Marie Ferdinand-Harris missed a 3-pointer from the left corner just before the buzzer.

Thompson hit a 3-pointer to put the Sparks ahead 75-74 with 1:48 left. The Storm led 72-60 with 8:48 left.

Seattle opens the best-of-3 conference semifinals at home Wednesday against the still-to-be-determined No. 4 seed.

The Sparks open the playoffs Wednesday or Thursday against either No. 1 Seattle or No. 2 Phoenix in a best-of three-series.

The Storm led by 12 early in the fourth quarter before Thompson’s 3-pointer cut the margin to 72-68 with 5:58 left.

Little scored 11 in the third quarter to help give the Storm a 66-56 lead. Little had eight straight early in the quarter to ignite a 12-6 run.

The Sparks clinched a playoff spot with a win Friday over Minnesota while the Storm clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference in July.

Seattle has won eight straight at home against the Sparks since a loss in 2006.

Jackson moved passed Katie Smith into third place on the WNBA career scoring list.