June 14, 2008: Scoreboard | Video Play of the Day | Today in the WNBA Archive

PHOTO OF THE DAY Comets fans clearly still have love for Sheryl Swoopes, who returned to Houston on Saturday for the first time since signing with Seattle in the offseason. However, Swoopes scored just eight points as the Storm lost to the Comets. Bill Baptist/NBAE/Getty Images

Mercury Starting to Feel the Heat Phoenix falls to 2-6 with home loss to Detroit: When the defending champion Phoenix Mercury got off to an 0-4 start, it was attributed to Corey Gaines taking over for departed coach Paul Westhead and a tough early schedule. The Mercury won their next two games but are sliding again. In Saturday's nationally televised home loss to Detroit, the resonant sound was the clang of the shots taken by Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter. The WNBA's top two scorers were clearly off their games, as Taurasi made just 1-of-13 shots before fouling out and Pondexter was 5-of-24, managing 28 points thanks to 17 trips to the foul line. Phoenix never led after the first four minutes and trailed by as many as 14 points, falling 4 1/2 games out of first place in the Western Conference. Things don't get any easier as league-leading Connecticut comes to town Wednesday before the Mercury embark on a five-game road trip. If Phoenix plans on defending its WNBA title, it better get going soon. ALSO MAKING HEADLINES ... Pitching a shutout: Returning from a 3-0 road trip, the Sacramento Monarchs pounced on the Los Angeles Sparks, opening a 44-31 halftime lead. But they left their games in the locker room as they shot 0-of-15 while committing seven turnovers in a horrific third quarter that paved the way for a 74-66 loss. Had either Lisa Leslie or Candace Parker broken free for a jam, you could have called this one "Dunk and Donut." ... The much-anticipated return to Houston of former Comets star Sheryl Swoopes didn't go as planned - at least for Swoopes. The three-time WNBA MVP was limited to eight points on 3-of-10 shooting as the Storm allowed the last-place Comets to grab just their second win of the season. Boucek WHAT THEY'RE SAYING "We've got a group of fighters. They fought the whole way through the game. We have lost two games by one point and one game by four points. For a young team, I am proud of the way we fought." -- Minnesota coach Don Zierden, after the Lynx nearly erased a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit in a one-point loss at New York. Zierden

WHO'S HOT DeLisha Milton-Jones, Sparks 13 pts, 5-7 FG, 2-2 3-pt FG 74-66 win at Monarchs Cathrine Kraayeveld, Liberty 13 pts, 5-7 FG, 3-5 3-pt FG 77-76 win vs. Lynx Candice Wiggins, Lynx 26 pts, 8-13 FG, 2-4 3-pt FG, 8-9 FT 77-76 loss at Liberty

Milton-Jones

WHO'S NOT Shyra Ely, Storm 1-6 FG, 5 pts 68-60 loss at Comets Kara Lawson, Monarchs 1-7 FG, 9 pts 74-66 loss vs. Sparks Matee Ajavon, Comets 1-10 FG, 4 pts 68-60 win vs. Storm

Ely

WHO'S ON TAP Sunday's Game ... Silver Stars at Fever, 6 p.m. ET

Catchings

Thompson

FILLING THE BOX SCORE Although the Houston Comets are at the bottom of the Western Conference, it's not the fault of forward Tina Thompson, who is near the top of the WNBA in a handful of statistical categories. In Saturday's home win over Seattle, Thompson notched her third double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, adding a season-best five assists for good measure. The five-time All-Star is second in minutes per game, third in rebounding, 3-pointers and double-doubles, fourth in 3-point percentage and eighth in scoring. At 33, Thompson is playing as well as she has at any point in her stellar career.

ROOKIE WATCH On Draft Day, the Detroit Shock's first-round choice of Tasha Humphrey was obscured by the earlier selections of Tennessee national champions Candace Parker and Alexis Hornbuckle, Rutgers standouts Essence Carson and Matee Ajavon, and LSU's Sylvia Fowles. Joining a veteran-laden contender, Humphrey didn't do much to distinguish herself in her first six games, averaging 3.2 points and being held to a bucket or less on five occasions. But in Saturday's nationally televised win at Phoenix, Humphrey announced her arrival with a 28-point explosion. The 6-3 forward-center from Georgia made 10-of-15 shots as she eclipsed her season-to-date totals in points, shots made and attempted, rebounds, assists and blocks. Just what the Eastern Conference champions need - another strong frontcourt player.

Humphrey