Storm set WNBA record with 37 assists in win over Sky

Breanna Stewart had 25 points and nine rebounds, Gabby Williams added 21 points and seven assists, and the Seattle Storm set a WNBA record with 37 assists in a 111-100 victory over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night.

Despite the loss, Chicago (25-9) is still in the driver's seat to earn the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, sitting 1 1/2 games ahead of second-place Las Vegas, which played later Tuesday night. Seattle (21-13) moved a game in front of Washington for the No. 4 seed, and the Storm hold the tiebreaker with the Mystics for homecourt in the first round.

Seattle led by as many as 22 points in the second half and hit the century mark with 4:50 left in the fourth.

Jewell Loyd added 18 points for Seattle. Tina Charles had 14 points, Ezi Magbegor added 13 points, and Sue Bird had 10 points and eight assists.

Seattle made nine of its first 11 field goals and shot 76.2 with 24 assists.

Courtney Vandersloot led Chicago with 28 points, going 10 of 15 from the field and 7 of 10 at the stripe, and she added seven assists. Kahleah Copper scored 17 points, Candace Parker had 14 points and Azura Stevens added 12.

Seattle was without head coach Noelle Quinn after she tested positive for COVID-19 and was in the league's health and safety protocols.

Plum, Wilson lead Aces past Dream

Kelsey Plum scored 18 of her 22 points in the second half, A'ja Wilson had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and the Las Vegas Aces held off the Atlanta Dream 97-90 on Tuesday night.

Las Vegas (24-10) pulled within one game of first-place Chicago with two games to play, including hosting the Sky on Thursday. Atlanta (14-20) sits in eighth place, a half-game ahead of Minnesota for the final playoff spot.

Las Vegas opened the fourth quarter on a 16-4 run to build a 78-69 lead, but Atlanta responded by making a 3-pointer on three straight possessions to tie it at 78. Atlanta rookie Naz Hillmon completed a three-point play to cap the 14-4 run, giving Atlanta an 83-82 lead.

Aari McDonald made a open 3-pointer in transition after a Las Vegas turnover to get Atlanta within 91-90, but she missed one two possessions later and had to foul Chelsea Gray with 21.5 seconds left. Gray made both free throws for a two-possession lead, and Wilson sealed it with a block with 8.7 left.

Gray also scored 22 points and Jackie Young added 20 for Las Vegas. Wilson scored 18 points in the first half as Las Vegas led 47-44.

Erica Wheeler and Maya Caldwell each scored 17 points for Atlanta. McDonald added 16 points, and Cheyenne Parker and Rhyne Howard each scored 14.

Howard made her first 3-pointer, in five attempts, midway through the fourth quarter to set a WNBA record for 3-pointers by a rookie with 77. The previous record of 76 was set in 2002 Tamika Catchings.

Jones shines as Sun defeat Sparks

Jonquel Jones had 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Connecticut Sun ease past the Los Angeles Sparks 97-71 on Tuesday night.

Connecticut (23-11) stayed a game behind second-place Las Vegas in the playoff chase. The Sun will stay in Los Angeles for a rematch on Thursday before closing out the regular season on Sunday against Minnesota. Los Angeles (13-21) sits in 11th, with an outside shot of passing three teams for the final playoff spot.

Los Angeles was undone by 20 turnovers and Connecticut's 40-23 edge on the boards.

Brionna Jones added 14 points, Natisha Hiedeman scored 13 and Alyssa Thomas had 11 points, seven assists and four steals for Connecticut. DeWanna Bonner scored 10 points.

Connecticut led 53-32 at halftime behind 18 points and nine rebounds from Jonquel Jones. Los Angeles turned it over 13 times in the first half and got outrebounded 23-12.

Brittney Sykes scored 18 points and Nneka Ogwumike added 16 for Los Angeles. Jordin Canada added 15 points.

Ogwumike moved past Diana Taurasi for 22nd on the WNBA career steals list with 485.