AUBURN HILLS, MICH. ? Swin Cash scored 20 points as Detroit beat the Los Angeles Sparks, 87-78 in overtime, Tuesday night, snapping at 18 games the longest winning streak in the seven-year history of the WNBA.

The two-time defending champion Sparks won their final nine games of last season and started this year 9-0. That tied the Sparks’ own 2-year-old mark for the fastest start in league history.

After a strong start, the Shock trailed by 16 points early in the second half. A 12-2 run gave them a chance to come back, and they made just enough stops and shots to force overtime.

Ruth Riley made two free throws with 3.7 seconds left to tie it at 76. Detroit scored the first seven points in overtime before an excited crowd of 5,411.

Tamecka Dixon, a former Kansas University standout, led the Sparks with 22 points.

The top team in the WNBA had to go for much of the game without the best player in the league.

Lisa Leslie was limited to 13 points because she was in foul trouble all game.

The Shock have won four straight and have been atop the conference for three days — the longest stint in team history — after starting 0-13 last season.

Both teams were led by former NBA standouts — Sparks coach Michael Cooper and Shock coach Bill Laimbeer — who competed for championships.

Riley scored 15 points, and rookie Cheryl Ford — the daughter of NBA star Karl Malone — had 11 points and 15 rebounds. Elaine Powell scored 13 points and Deanna Nolan added 11.

Mwadi Mabika scored 12 for Los Angeles. DeLisha Milton and Nikki Teasley scored 10 each.

The Sparks went on a 26-4 run that started late in the first half and ended with them ahead 48-32 early in the second.

Storm 61, Mercury 60

Phoenix — Lauren Jackson made two free throws with 24 seconds remaining, capping a 23-point performance for Seattle. Phoenix had a chance to win, but Tamicha Jackson missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer. Anna DeForge led the Mercury with a career-high 22 points.

Liberty 70, Monarchs 61

New York — Vickie Johnson scored 18 points, Becky Hammon 17 and Crystal Robinson 16 — including four three-pointers — for New York. Yolanda Griffith had 21 points and 16 rebounds for the Monarchs, who also got 17 points from Tangela Smith.

Comets 77, Lynx 68

Minneapolis — Tina Thompson scored a season-high 30 points for injury-depleted Houston. The victory snapped a four-game road losing streak for the Comets, who are missing Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes. Katie Smith scored 27 points for the Lynx, now 1-14 all time against the Comets.

Fever 71, Sting 60

Indianapolis — Tamika Catchings had 29 points and 10 rebounds, and Natalie Williams added 16 points for Indiana. Allison Feaster led Charlotte with 21 points, while Tammy Sutton-Brown had 18 points.