UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) - Kara Lawson scored 23 points while Tina Charles added 19 points and 13 rebounds to help the Connecticut Sun beat the New York Liberty 81-69 on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
The game marked the return of Bill Laimbeer and Anne Donovan to the pro sidelines. Laimbeer was coaching his first game since 2009, when he left the Detroit Shock four games into the season to pursue opportunities in the NBA. Donovan spent the past three seasons coaching Seton Hall after leaving the Liberty in 2010.
Donovan took over a talented Connecticut Sun squad that made it to the Eastern Conference finals last season before losing to Indiana. The Sun let longtime coach Mike Thibault go after the season.
Cappie Pondexter scored 23 for the Liberty.
DREAM 98, SHOCK 81
ATLANTA (AP) - Tiffany Hayes scored 21 points and Sancho Lyttle added 18 points and 10 rebounds to help Atlanta beat Tulsa, spoiling Skylar Diggins' WNBA debut.
Riquna Williams had 16 of her 22 points in the second quarter for the Shock, who began the season hoping to shake off last year's 9-25 record and become a playoff contender.
Diggins, the WNBA's third overall draft pick, finished with 15 points and Roneeka Hodges added 14 for Tulsa.
Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry, the league's leading scorer last year, finished with 16 points.