Dearica Hamby scored 16 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter, Rae Burrell had a career-high 20 points, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the host Phoenix Mercury 88-83 on Tuesday, although it was not enough to keep the Sparks from playoff elimination.

Kelsey Plum had 17 points and Hamby added nine rebounds, but Los Angeles' postseason drought will reach five seasons when Seattle beat Golden State 74-73, a game that ended moments after the Sparks' win in Phoenix.

Alyssa Thomas had her eighth triple-double, Satou Sabally 24 points, and Sami Whitcomb had 11 off the bench for the Mercury, who are locked into the No. 4 seed in the WNBA playoffs.

The Mercury (27-16), who are 16-6 at home, will have the home-court advantage against the New York Liberty, the No. 5 seed and defending league cham

See Full Page