Sparks improve to 11-0 to tie WNBA record, beating Mercury

LOS ANGELES — Candace Parker had 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Phoenix Mercury 77-71 on Friday night to match the best start in WNBA history at 11-0.

The record was set Tuesday night when Minnesota (11-0) broke its own league mark. The Lynx will face Los Angeles in a home-and-home series next week.

Candice Dupree scored six straight Phoenix points to pull the Mercury to 73-69 with 3:56 remaining, but Phoenix didn’t score again until Diana Taurasi’s baseline jumper with 17.1 seconds left. Parker sealed it with two free throws with 16.5 seconds left.

Essence Carson added 12 points for Los Angeles, which is ranked second in the AP power poll. Kristi Toliver made three of Los Angeles’ five 3-pointers and finished with 10 points. Nneka Ogwumike had 10 points and three blocks.

Dupree scored 12 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter for sixth-ranked Phoenix (4-7). Taurasi, who entered as the WNBA’s No. 2 scorer at 24.1 points per game, was held to 15.