Candace Parker scored 34 points, the most in a WNBA debut, and added 12 rebounds to help the visiting Los Angeles Sparks beat the defending champion Phoenix Mercury, 99-94, yesterday in the opener for both teams.

The previous high in a WNBA debut was 25 points by Cynthia Cooper in 1997.

Parker, who led Tennessee to back-to-back NCAA titles, scored 10 consecutive points to give the Sparks an 89-86 lead with 3:15 to play. Parker converted 6 of 7 shots in the final quarter.

Parker wore a brace on her left shoulder, which was dislocated in the NCAA tournament. It didn't slow her one bit.

Parker came within two assists of becoming the first WNBA rookie to record a triple-double. Only one NBA player did it in his debut -- Oscar Robertson, in 1960.

Cappie Pondexter scored 32 points for Phoenix but missed a potential tying 3-pointer with four seconds to go. Lisa Leslie, who missed last season on maternity leave, had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Sparks.

Katie Smith scored 21 points and Plenette Pierson added 17 to help the host Detroit Shock beat the Houston Comets, 85-66.

• Tamika Whitmore had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the host Connecticut Sun past the expansion Atlanta Dream, 100-67.

Michigan State said backup quarterback Connor Dixon of South Park High School has been granted a release from his scholarship. Dixon has battled shoulder injuries, and indicated he wanted to try a fresh start at another school.

Rafael Nadal won a three-set struggle with Novak Djokovic to protect his No. 2 ranking and advance to the Hamburg Masters final in Germany against the world's top-ranked player. Nadal will face No. 1 Roger Federer in the final today. Federer overwhelmed Andreas Seppi, 6-3, 6-1, while Nadal had to fight for more than three hours to defeat the third-ranked Djokovic, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2.

• Maria Sharapova pulled out of the Italian Open semifinals in Rome because of a strained left calf, two days before she is to assume the No. 1 ranking following Justine Henin's retirement. Sharapova had been scheduled to play defending champion Jelena Jankovic. In the final today, Jankovic will meet France's Alize Cornet. Cornet became the first female qualifier to reach the Italian Open final in several decades by defeating sixth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

• Carnegie Mellon's Amy Staloch and Jennifer Chui advanced to the NCAA Division III semifinals with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory in St. Peter, Minn. The semifinals and final are today.

Finland defeated Sweden, 4-0, to win the bronze medal at the IIHF World Hockey Championship in Quebec City. Antti Pihlstrom had two goals for the Finns. Canada and Russia meet for the gold medal today.

Pitt (19-34, 8-20) concluded its season with 6-5 and 7-5 losses to Connecticut (27-28, 11-16) in Big East Conference action at Trees Field. Joe Leonard went 2 for 3 with a home run and 3 RBIs in the second game and also connected for a homer in the first game for the Panthers.

Melanie Roach, 33, mother of three, finally fulfilled her Olympic dream, having overcome a back injury that ruined her expected trip to Sydney. Roach was the top-rated lifter at the U.S. weightlifting trials in Atlanta, claiming one of four female spots allotted to the Americans. She'll be joined in Beijing by Carissa Gump, Natalie Woolfolk and third-time Olympian Cheryl Haworth. The 117-pound Roach made all three of her lifts in the snatch, the heaviest at just over 178 pounds.

The three-member U.S. men's team also was decided. Kendrick Farris was the top-rated qualifier, followed by Chad Vaughn and Casey Burgener.