Natasha Cloud made a fade-away jumper just before the buzzer to give the Washington Mystics a 69-67 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday night.
Cloud took an inbounds pass with 3.8 seconds left, dribbled to the free-throw line, went behind her back and sank the winner. She was 1 of 10 from the floor before her first winner.
Elena Delle Donne led third-place Washington (22-11) with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Kristi Toliver added 12 points, and Aerial Powers had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Riquna Williams scored 14 points for Los Angeles (19-14).
SUN 96, LYNX 79
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) - Jonquel Jones made five 3-points and scored 26 points, Alyssa Thomas had 18 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and Connecticut beat Minnesota.
Connecticut (20-13), winners of eight of nine, secured a first-round bye with the victory and Los Angeles’ loss at Washington. The Sun moved one-game ahead of fifth-place Los Angeles, with the teams meeting on Sunday in the regular-season finale. Connecticut holds the tiebreaker.
Layshia Clarendon added 14 points for Connecticut.
Sylvia Fowles had 25 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota (17-16).
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