Taurasi, Mercury get past Sparks

PHOENIX — Diana Taurasi scored 26 points and made two free throws with 8 seconds left to ice the Phoenix Mercury’s 70-66 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday night.

The Mercury (12-14) had their largest lead at 64-55 on Brittney Griner’s basket with 6:33 left and Los Angeles went scoreless after Kristi Toliver’s 3-pointer cut it to 68-66 with 1:24 left. It was Toliver’s 400th career 3-pointer. SKY 92, WING 85: In Arlington, Texas, Elena Delle Donne had 18 points and eight rebounds to help Chicago beat Dallas. DREAM 87, SUN 73: In Atlanta, Layshia Clarendon and Angel McCoughtry scored 19 points each to help the Dream beat Connecticut. LYNX 92, STORM 80: In Minneapolis, Lindsay Whalen scored a season-high 24 points, Sylvia Fowles added 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Minnesota beat the Storm. STARS 85, MYSTICS 74: In Washington, Monique Currie, Jazmon Gwathmey and Astou Ndour scored 16 points each and San Antonio ended a sixgame losing streak. Etc. … HORSE RACING: Klassic Strawfly, ae 10-year-old gelding, scored a convincing 1¼-length victory in the inaugural running of the 440-yard, $100,221 First Moonflash Maturity for New Mexico-breds at Albuquerque Downs.

TRACK & FIELD: In Warsaw, world and Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland broke her own hammer world record with a throw of 82.98 meters on Sunday.

U.S. SOCCER: Midfielder Gyasi Zardes will miss the United States’ upcoming World Cup qualifiers after he was injured during a Major League Soccer game.

CYCLING: In Alto del Naranco, Spain, Spaniard David de la Cruz took the lead of the Spanish Vuelta from Nairo Quintana after completing a successful breakaway to win the mountainous ninth stage.