Paul Westhead picked up his first win as a WNBA coach Tuesday as the Mercury downed the Monarchs. Norm Hall/NBAE/Getty Images

Swoopes TODAY'S TOP STORY Two teams were forced to take the court without their leaders on Tuesday. Sacramento coach John Whisenant, who led the Monarchs to the championship last season, missed a 90-76 loss to the Mercury due to an illness in the family. Houston was without its on-court leader as MVP Sheryl Swoopes missed a 93-79 loss at Washington. The Comets entered the night on a five-game winning streak but saw it come to an end as Swoopes (15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists per game) did not make the trip due to a sore back. ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... Four and Counting: The Mystics are quickly taking a liking to the league's new 24-second shot clock. Washington entered Tuesday leading the league in scoring and rattled off its fourth straight 90-point game behind 55.7 percent shooting from the floor en route to a 93-79 win over the previously red-hot Comets. Alana Beard led the way for the Mystics with 22 points and Nikki Teasley added 11 points and 11 assists. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING "As the players and I have said, we knew we were getting better. So it wasn't like we all of a sudden did a total reversal." -- Mercury coach Paul Westhead after picking up his first WNBA victory on Tuesday.

Thompson WHO'S HOT Tina Thompson, HOU: 19 pts, 8-11 FG Alana Beard, WAS: 22 pts, 8-13 FG Roneeka Hodges, HOU: 21 pts, 7-14 FG, 5-7 3-pt FG

Lawson WHO'S NOT Kara Lawson, SAC: 1-7 FG, 2 pts Rebekkah Brunson, SAC: 3-11 FG, 6 pts Scholanda Dorrell, SAC: 1-5 FG, 2 pts

Pondexter ROOKIE WATCH Cappie Pondexter gave her coach a big present on Tuesday. The No. 2 pick in this year's draft came into the night averaging 21.3 points a game and improved on that by matching a season high with 30 points in a 90-76 victory over the Comets, giving coach Paul Westhead his first WNBA win.

Taurasi FILLING THE BOX SCORE Diana Taurasi helped make sure the Mercury's season-long losing streak wouldn't get any longer than four. Taurasi turned in a stellar all-around game, posting a season-high 30 points along with eight rebounds, four assists and a block in a 90-76 win Tuesday over the Monarchs.