Los Angeles ? Sandy Brondello scored 21 points and the Seattle Storm built an 18-point lead, then withstood a late comeback to defeat the Los Angeles Sparks, 69-67, Thursday night.

Rookie Shaquala Williams’ layup cut the Storm’s lead to 67-65 with 37 seconds left, capping a 9-0 run. Los Angeles again pulled within two, at 69-67, on Sophia Witherspoon’s lay-up with 4.1 seconds remaining.

Brondello missed two free throws a second later and Witherspoon grabbed the rebound, but the Sparks were unable to get a shot off before time expired.

Sue Bird had 15 points and tied a career high with 12 assists. Lauren Jackson had 15 points and Kamila Vodichkova 14 for Seattle (5-4).

Lisa Leslie scored 21, Kansas University product Tamecka Dixon 17 and Witherspoon 10 for Los Angeles (9-2), which lost its second consecutive game.

Following six lead changes and two ties to open the game, Seattle used a 13-0 run over a 3:10 span to take the lead for good, pulling ahead 30-18 with 6:10 left in the first half.