DeWanna Bonner scored 20 points, Rebecca Allen added 18 and the Connecticut Sun played stellar defense to beat the New York Liberty 78-63 in the first game of their WNBA semifinals series.

Brittney Griner had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and the Phoenix Mercury set a WNBA record for points in a quarter with 45 in the first before holding off the short-handed Connecticut Sun down the stretch for a 90-84 win.

The New York Liberty traded for 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones as part of a three-team deal with the Connecticut Sun and Dallas Wings.

Kahleah Copper scored 20 points and Courtney Vandersloot added 16 to help Chicago to a record rout of New York 100-62 to even the first-round WNBA playoffs series and force a decisive Game 3.

Australian basketball star Lauren Jackson is making a comeback after retiring six years ago.

Three teams picked up wins in the action on Thursday.