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Needing only one win to keep Lisa Leslie's WNBA career going, the Sparks fell to the Phoenix Mercury 85-74 in the Western Conference semi-finals - ending LA's season and Leslie's career. With the win, the Mercury advance to the WNBA Finals against Indiana, who defeated Detroit to advance in the East.

Leslie, who announced her retirement before the start of the season and reiterated it several times during the year - including on Friday - finished with 22 points and had nine rebounds before fouling out of the game at the 1:39 mark in the fourth. Betty Lennox added 19 points, while Leslie's former USC teammate Tina Thompson had 13 for the Sparks and Delisha Milton-Jones seven. Candace Parker only scored six points but had nine rebounds in the loss.

Diana Taurasi led the Mercury with 21 points while Le'Coe Willingham had 17 and Cappie Poindexter scored 12.

Lisa Leslie scored 19 points in her final home regular season game for the Sparks and lead the charge in a 90-61 blowout win over the Minnesota Lynx.
Leslie and former college Tina Thompson - who also had 19 - led the team in scoring while Delisha Milton-Jones had 16 and Candace Parker scored 13 points and had 14 rebounds and five assists.

Leslie was honored before Friday's game by the Sparks and by Laker legend Magic Johnson, who called Leslie "a legend that was born right in front of our eyes." President Donna Orender added about Leslie, ""Her leadership and her passion have made her the leading icon in women's basketball today."

The Sparks are now a firm third seed in the playoffs with a record of 17-16 and finish the season in Phoenix on Sunday - with a 3 pm tipoff.

Wild, going-out-of-bounds shot by Noelle Quinn ends the first half to put the Sparks up 51-45.

Tina Thompson's transition pass with less than five seconds gets to Quinn in the corner

Parker ends the first half with 6 points and much of her play is doubled, which gives her teammates open opportunities.

Candace just tried her first shot of the game and missed it. Just a warmup, she'll get it going. Just looking for her timing.

The Mercury scorers are in early foul trouble...including Taurasi.

Now its Mercury 28-23

Candace got her first points of the game and now its tied at 28 and the end of the first quarter

Parker has just come into the game for the first time all season. At the 5:35 mark in the first quarter. Phoenix is up 21-13 now too. The Mercury defense keyed on Parker and Ferdinand-Harris got an easy bucket and 1

The Sparks looking strong, scoring the first five points of the game. ...

but as soon as I say that, Phoenix ties it at 5..then takes the lead and the Sparks tie it at 10.

Let's see what Diana Taurasi does after he DUI late last week...maybe her mental game will be different.

Candace should be coming back tonight at some point. Lisa Leslie is still out with her knee innjury too, so Candace's coming back would be good timing tonight.