WNBA | Stars beat clock, Sparks 67-66

San Antonio coach Dan Hughes had no doubt who was going to take the final shot with the Silver Stars' season on the line — Sophia...

By The Associated Press

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ERIC GAY / AP

San Antonio's Sophia Young, center, celebrates with teammates Sandora Irvin, left, Becky Hammon, top, and Erin Buescher after making the winning basket against the Los Angeles Sparks in Game 2 of the WNBA Western Conference finals on Saturday in San Antonio. Young scored 21 points.

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SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio coach Dan Hughes had no doubt who was going to take the final shot with the Silver Stars' season on the line — Sophia Young.

Young delivered with a 14-foot turnaround shot at the buzzer to lift the Silver Stars to a 67-66 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks Saturday, and forced a deciding Game 3 in the Western Conference finals.

"She's just a player you can get a lot from in those situations," Hughes said of Young "It's not about the play, it's about the player."

Young finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead San Antonio. Becky Hammon added 19 points.

Los Angeles rallied from a 14-point deficit to take a one-point lead with 1.3 seconds left on DeLisha Milton-Jones' layin.

After a timeout, San Antonio took the ball at midcourt. Young grabbed a pass and made the turnaround from the wing to keep the Silver Stars' playoff hopes alive.

"If you've got players who are playmakers, as a coach it's your job to get them the ball," Hughes said. "I have a few of those. That's why we're still playing."

The final game of the series will be played today in San Antonio.

"I thought it was a very, very, very well-played basketball game by both teams," Sparks coach Michael Cooper said.

"San Antonio showed you why they are the top in the Western Conference with the record they have; then we showed why we are an up-and-coming team. The Western Conference is at stake, so both teams will go at it again."

Rookie Candace Parker led Los Angeles with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Lisa Leslie, who scored 22 points in Game 1, had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Milton-Jones finished with 14 points.

"It was a great shot," said Leslie, a three-time league most valuable player, of Young's basket. "You need a little luck to play this game. Hail Mary, right? But we still feel really good about our chances."

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