ARAB TIMES, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 SPORTS 15 Griner stars Mercury hold off Fever’s late rally INDIANAPOLIS, Sept 7, (AP): Brittney Griner had 21 points and 10 rebounds and the Phoenix Mercury held off the Indiana Fever 86-81 for their ninth straight victory. Indiana (6-21) used a 21-7 run that included a Kelsey Mitchell 3-pointer to pull to 84-81 with 47.9 seconds to play. But she missed a potential-tying 3 with 24.8 remaining, and Brianna Turner’s layup then sealed it for Phoenix (18-10). The Mercury’s current win streak is the franchise’s second longest. Griner was 9-of-14 shooting from the fl oor and collected her 14th 20-point game this season. It was also her 14th double-double of the season. Kia Nurse made 7 of 9 shots, and all three of her 3-pointers in the third quarter. She fi n- ished with 19 points, including 13 in the third quarter. Diana Taurasi added 11 points and seven assists. Turner fi nished with eight points. Phoenix outscored Indiana 24-10 in the third quarter that included a 17-0 run. The Fever missed its fi rst seven shots before Victoria Vivians hit a 3-pointer to make it 60-45 with 3:34 left. Mitchell scored 23 points to lead the Fe- ver. Lindsay Allen added a career-high 15 points with Griner seven assists. Teaira McCowan had 13 points and 16 rebounds. Vivians added 13 points. The Fever opened with an 11-2 run, but the Mercury pulled to 22-18 at the end the fi rst quarter and then tied it at 24 early in the second. Griner’s layup with 16.7 seconds left in the half gave the Mercury a 43-42 lead at the break. Team Europe poses after they defeated the United States at the Solheim Cup golf tournament, on Sept. 6, in Toledo, Ohio. (AP) The Mercury had a 36-9 third quar- ter and beat the Fever 87-65 on Satur- day night. Meanwhile, the WNBA honored its past and present when it announced the BASKETBALL Europe ‘retain’ Solheim Cup league’s top 25 players. The “W25” has 10 current players, including Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Syl- via Fowles, Candace Parker and Bre- anna Stewart. Former stars Lisa Leslie, Tamika Catchings, Katie Smith and Sheryl Swoopes are among 15 retired with 2nd-ever win on US soil players selected by a panel of media members and women’s basketball pio- neers and advocates. Rookies Castren, Pedersen and Maguire shine It’s the fourth time that the league, in its 25th season, has produced a list of its top players. Bird, Catchings, Cynthia TOLEDO, Ohio, Sept 7, and Castren recovered from a Cooper, Yolanda Griffi th, Lauren Jack- (AP): Europe retained the plugged approach shot in the bunker son, Leslie, Smith, Swoopes and Tina to pour her par putt into the heart of Thompson also were recognized on Solheim Cup, clinching just the cup, Europe had its fourth each of the previous anniversary lists. its second victory on US Solheim Cup win in its last six meet- “It’s a huge honor to be named soil when Matilda Castren ings with the Americans. among the top 25 players in league his- Europe led from start to finish, seiz- tory and I’m in awe that I’m a part of closed out Lizette Salas 1 ing a 3-point advantage after the open- such a prestigious list,” Bird said. “It’s up to give the visitors the ing alternate-shot session on Saturday been incredible to experience the rise decisive point in a 15-13 morning and never letting go. in the level of competition in the past victory. Not even a highly partisan crowd 25 years and I’m excited to see what that included a rapping two-time the future holds for this league.” Castren calmly curled in a 10- foot par putt on the 18th to edge Sa- Masters champion Bubba Watson To be considered for the group, (yes, really) could give the US the players must have played at least two las and give Europe back-to-back energy it needed to close the gap. seasons and met four of seven criteria: Cup victories for just the second Still, US captain Pat Hurst won a major individual award; selected time in the 31-year history of the to either the All-WNBA First Team or remained confident heading into sin- biennial showdown between the gles, saying her “stacked” team had All-WNBA Second Team; selected to two rivals. either the WNBA All-Defensive First enough talent and experience to Team or WNBA All-Defensive Second “It’s just crazy, crazy,” said the overcome the deficit. Team; selected to the WNBA All-Star 26-year-old who became eligible to It had happened before. Eight Game; a member of a WNBA champi- make the team only after winning an times before Monday, Europe found onship team; currently ranked among event in her native Finland in July. “I itself in front heading into singles. the top 40 career leaders in at least one can’t believe I made that putt. I knew Only four times had the Europeans major statistical category; and/or a re- it was important. I knew it was going held on to win. cipient of the WNBA’s season-long to break a little bit left. Me and (my Yet 33-year-old Mel Reid, a four- Community Assist Award. caddie) read the putt perfectly and it time Solheim Cup veteran, said on “Throughout this season, the WNBA went in. It’s just such an amazing the eve of the opening matches that and our fans are celebrating the impact feeling, and so proud to be part of this was the best team Europe had the WNBA has made on sports and this team.” ever brought to the event. society over a quarter of a century,” Over the course of three days, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engel- GOLF Reid and her 11 teammates played bert said. “I can think of no better way United States’ Ally Ewing hits from the bunker on the 11th hole during the singles matches at the Solheim Cup golf like it. The Brit went 2-0-1 over the to honor those responsible for that im- Two years after needing a dramat- pact than by unveiling the members of tournament, on Sept. 6, in Toledo, Ohio. (AP) weekend while paired with the seem- ic 7-foot putt by Suzann Pettersen to ingly unstoppable Maguire. this prestigious group, The W25.” with the US. a 3-and-2 victory over Ally Ewing Americans and roars from the crowd Fans will be able to vote for their slip by the Americans at Gleneagles, Reid’s spectacular 8-iron from the final putt this time around was The Europeans built a 9-7 lead and Celine Boutier dropped US rook- were reserved for lengthy par putts 136 yards at the 18th on Sunday in choice as the greatest of all-time. The ie Mina Harigae 5-and-4 to push fans’ pick will be revealed during the more of an exclamation point on over the weekend and quickly put on that halved holes instead of winning the final match earned a half-point WNBA Finals. three days of steady and occasionally the pressure Monday, snuffing out Europe’s total to 12. Anna Nordqvist them. and gave Europe momentum it rode Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, spectacular play by the visitors. any legitimate hopes of a comeback and Lexi Thompson - who have com- Austin Ernst saw her a downhill all the way to a victory that never Swin Cash, Tamika Catchings, Tina When Emily Pedersen rolled in a by the hosts. bined for 12 Solheim appearances 8-foot birdie putt that would have really seemed in doubt from the Charles, Cynthia Cooper, Elena Delle birdie putt on the 18th to close out Leona Maguire, the first between them - finished all square in won her match against Nanna second Nordqvist and Castren Donne, Sylvia Fowles, Yolanda Grif- Danielle Kang, the Europeans poured Irishwoman to appear in the Solheim a taut match in which neither led by Koerstz Madsen slide left, letting edged Ernst and Danielle Kang 1 fi th, Brittney Griner, Becky Hammon, onto the green in celebration, hoist- Cup, capped off a brilliant 4-0-1 more than one at any point. Europe escape with a half-point to up in the opening match Saturday Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie, Angel ing captain Catriona Matthew on debut by making three birdies and an The Americans briefly made a bring its team total to 13. Salas had a morning. McCoughtry Maya Moore, Nneka their shoulders while shouting the eagle on the front nine to top Jennifer push, turning the scoreboard into a chance to even her match with While blowouts were rare - 21 out Ogwumike, Candace Parker, Tichia chorus to “Sweet Caroline.” Kupcho 5-and-4 in the third match sea of red late in the afternoon, but Castren on the 17th, only to shove of the 28 matches reached at least the Penicheiro, Cappie Pondexter, Ka- Good times have never seemed so out and give Europe the first of the the big shots the US needed to put her 6-foot birdie putt past the hole. 17th green and 16 of 28 went the full tie Smith, Breanna Stewart, Sheryl good for Europe, which has now five points it needed. pressure on the leaders materialized.