Sun show early-season growing pains

Diana Taurasi, a University of Connecticut graduate who won three national titles with the Huskies, has always been welcomed when the Phoenix Mercury come East to play the Connecticut Sun. But fans will have to swallow hard when her name is announced this afternoon at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

The novelty has worn off, and the Mercury (4-1) have defeated the Sun five of six times in Connecticut.

Meanwhile, the Sun (2-2) are trying to put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Sun coach Mike Thibault was scathing about his players after a loss last Saturday, saying they were "either stubborn or brain-dead."

He was slightly more upbeat after the Sun defeated the Chicago Sky, 102-97, in overtime Thursday night. But he acknowledged he's dealing with a work in progress, considering the blend of veterans, newcomers, and late arrivals.

"We're probably having our training camp right now and I have to get used to that," he said yesterday. "But there are some things that we should be better at, and we're struggling right now."

Thibault said Thursday's win was satisfying -- partially.

"We were bad early defensively, then we were really good in the second half," he said. "Our offense, Katie Douglas [22 points] and Asjha Jones [career-high 31] played great. The young players played well, so it was a mixture of starters and subs."

Thibault is still waiting for the team to put together two good halves. "We've never had a complete game yet," he said.

But it might not come today, and not just because of Taurasi.

"If we don't play well for the whole game, it could be a long day," Thibault said. "And it won't just be Diana; their whole team is good."

The Mercury have five players averaging double-digit scoring, led by Cappie Pondexter with 19.8 points per game , followed by Taurasi (19.2) .

Washington Mystics coach Richie Adubato resigned, general manager Linda Hargove announced. The team did not specify why Adubato quit just before the Mystics' home game last night against Chicago. "Richie felt that it was in his best interest to leave our team," Hargrove said in a statement. The Mystics, who lost, 75-70, have an 0-5 record. Adubato was hired in April 2005, and led the team to an 18-16 record and playoff appearance last season. Assistant coach Tree Rollins was named interim head coach. Candice Dupree and Jia Perkins each scored 19 points to lead the Sky over the reeling Mystics . . . Also last night, Cathrine Kraayeveld scored 21 points, and Shameka Christon had 11 to lead the New York Liberty to a 70-60 victory over the host Minnesota Lynx (0-6) . . . Houston Comets' Sheryl Swoopes was diagnosed with a bulging disk in her lower back. The two-time Olympian will be out 2-4 weeks.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.