Comets Surge to 16-2

Tina Thompson scored 23 points Thursday night as the three-time defending WNBA champion Houston Comets routed the expansion Seattle Storm, 80-50, before a crowd of 10,695 at Houston.

Sheryl Swoopes added 17 points and nine assists for Houston, which has won its last seven games to improve its league-best record to 16-2. Cynthia Cooper, the two-time league MVP who said this week that she will retire at the end of the season, had 13 points.

Charisse Sampson led the Storm (3-14) with 12 points.

Houston opened the game with a 10-0 run and had a 12-0 run later in the half to take a 37-19 at halftime. The Comets began the second half with a 12-2 run.

Houston has won eight in a row at home and 20 of its last 21 at the Compaq Center.

Phoenix 81, Detroit 69--Brandy Reed scored 22 points to lead the Mercury before 10,497 at Phoenix.

Michelle Griffiths added 17 for the Mercury, which is 6-0 against the Shock.

Orlando 72, Indiana 60--Taj McWilliams scored a season-high 22 points to lead the Miracle in front of 7,081 at Orlando, Fla.

Adrienne Johnson and Shannon Johnson each added 15 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Miracle (11-6).

Shannon Johnson also had seven rebounds and four assists.