Comets Beat Sparks, Head to WNBA Finals

I N G L E W O O D, Calif., Aug. 20 -- Being the WNBA’s best team in the regular season, including three victories over Houston, didn’t get the Los Angeles Sparks where they wanted to go.

Instead, the Comets advanced to their fourth consecutive WNBAfinals today with a 74-69 victory over the Sparks, whose 28-4regular-season record led the league.

“We stepped it up a level and we were able to beat a very goodteam on their home court,” said Cynthia Cooper, who scored 29points. “It was a tough game. We were felt we were underdogs.”

That’s a role the Comets have rarely played during their fouryears in the WNBA. They’ve won three league championships and willgo for a fourth beginning Thursday against either the New YorkLiberty or Cleveland Rockers, whose Eastern Conference finalsseries is tied 1-1. Game 3 is Monday night.

“Hopefully, they’ll beat up on each other,” said Houston’s Sheryl Swoopes, who was held to eight points after being sickbefore the game.

Swoopes Plays Through Sickness

Playing one year and one day after her teammate and close friendKim Perrot died of cancer, Cooper rallied the Comets to a 2-0series victory after winning Game 1 by 21 points in Houston.

“This was a huge win for us,” Swoopes said. “I don’t think we thought about what happened in the regular season. We felt we could beat them in the playoffs.”

Swoopes began vomiting after arriving at the Forum, then gotdizzy and had a headache.

“There was never a question I wasn’t going to be out there,” she said.

Janeth Arcain added 18 points for the Comets, including theirfinal five. Her running jumper snapped a 69-all tie with 39 secondsremaining. She then made three of four free throws to close out thegame.

“Arcain is a star in Brazil and comes here and plays any roleshe has to,” Cooper said.

Sparks Fall Short

Mwadi Mabika led the Sparks with 19 points and Tamecka Dixonadded 17, while Lisa Leslie had 12 points and 14 rebounds.