Dark cloud still hangs over Storm

Shannon Johnson scored 18 points as the San Antonio Silver Stars defeated visiting Seattle 81-69 Thursday night, handing the Storm their fourth straight defeat.

Marie Ferdinand added 16 points and six assists for the Silver Stars (4-12). Lauren Jackson led the Storm (7-8) with 17 points.

Just as the defending WNBA champion Storm are struggling, Jackson continues to struggle with her shot. She went 6 of 22 against San Antonio and is 9 for 37 over the past three games.

The last time Seattle lost four straight games was Aug. 19, 2003. The Storm also lost their next game then for a five-game drought.

Seattle has lost seven of its past 10 games.

The Silver Stars entered the game with six losses in their past seven games. San Antonio lost those games by an average of 12.5 points.

Seattle finished the game with a 20-1 edge in offensive rebounds. But the Storm shot 34 percent compared to San Antonio’s 47 percent.

Sun 71, Lynx 56: At Uncasville, Conn., Nykesha Sales had 18 points and Lindsay Whalen 15 to lead surging Connecticut past Minnesota for its fourth straight win.

Mystics 65, Sting 50: At Washington, rookie Temeka Johnson and Alana Beard had 14 points apiece, and Washington overcame a 12-point, first-half deficit to beat Charlotte.

Monarchs 61, Liberty 50: At New York, DeMya Walker had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead Sacramento over New York.

Swoopes, Catchings top All-Star voting

Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes and Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings were the top vote-getters for the WNBA All-Star Game in the latest balloting results.

Swoopes, one of nine remaining players from the WNBA’s inaugural season in 1997, garnered the most votes for the fifth time – receiving 108,999.

She will be joined July 9 in the Western Conference starting lineup by Sacramento Monarchs center Yolanda Griffith, Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi, and forward Lauren Jackson and guard Sue Bird of the defending champion Seattle Storm.

Catchings, leading the league in steals and fifth in assists, received 93,842 votes. Other starters for the East are guards Dawn Staley of the Charlotte Sting and Becky Hammon of the New York Liberty, forward Swin Cash and center Ruth Riley of the Detroit Shock.

Seattle’s Anne Donovan will coach the West, and Connecticut’s Mike Thibault the East.