NEW YORK (AP) - Epiphanny Prince had 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and the New York Liberty beat the Connecticut Sun 74-64 on Wednesday night to secure the top overall seed in the WNBA playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
New York (23-9) also set a team record for wins.
The Liberty held a 49-32 lead midway through the third quarter, but only made four free throws over the next 5 minutes. Connecticut closed on a 9-0 run, capped by Chelsea Gray's 3-pointer, to pull to 53-48. But New York extended its lead to 65-54 with 5:28 remaining on Tanisha Wright's layup.
Tina Charles added 16 points and 13 rebounds for New York. She moved past Tammy Sutton-Brown into 17th place on the WNBA's career rebounding list with 2,011.
Kelsey Bone scored 19 points for Connecticut (14-19). The Sun were swept in the season series for the first time since 1999.
DREAM 90, SPARKS 60
ATLANTA (AP) - Angel McCoughtry scored 23 points and Atlanta beat short-handed Los Angeles for coach Michael Cooper's 200th victory.
Cooper is the fifth coach in WNBA history to reach the mark.
Los Angeles sat out Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike and Alana Beard after securing their 15th playoff spot in 17 years Sunday.
Shoni Schimmel, Tiffany Hayes and Damiris Dantas each added 15 points for Atlanta (14-18).
Jantel Lavender had 14 points and Ana Dabovic added 13 for Los Angeles (14-19).