SEATTLE – Tanisha Wright made the tying and go-ahead free throws with 53.9 seconds left, and Lauren Jackson scored 31 points as the Seattle Storm rallied in the final 3 minutes to beat the Connecticut Sun 83-82 Thursday night.
Swin Cash had 21 points and Camille Little added 10 to help the league-best Storm (23-4) snap a two-game losing streak, their only skid of the season.
Tina Charles scored 23 points and Renee Montgomery added 22 for the Sun (13-14), who lost their fourth straight and dropped 2½ games behind New York for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Asjha Jones had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Kara Lawson added 10 points.
Trailing 81-76, Sue Bird made a 3-pointer from the left corner with 2:07 left and Cash hit two free throws 47 seconds later to tie the score.
Montgomery made a free throw to put Connecticut ahead 82-81 with 1:05 to go, but she then fouled Wright on the next trip downcourt, and Wright hit both of her free throws.
Connecticut had one last try at the buzzer, but Tan White's shot from the top of the key bounced off the rim.
Seattle led 51-41 early in the third quarter before Connecticut had a 25-11 scoring advantage the rest of the period to take a four-point lead. White's 3 put the Sun up 64-62, starting a 10-0 surge that extended into the early part of the fourth quarter and pushed the lead to 71-62.
Jackson also had eight rebounds for Seattle, which finished with a 35-27 edge.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.