Houston ? Sheryl Swoopes scored 27 points, and Cynthia Cooper added 11 points and seven assists in her first game since coming out of retirement as the Houston Comets beat the Seattle Storm, 75-64, Thursday night.

Sue Bird had 19 points for the Storm, who pulled within six points with 8:20 left before Houston pulled away with an 11-0 run.

Cooper helped the Comets win four straight WNBA titles before retiring following the 2000 season. She won two MVP trophies and three league scoring titles.

She got a rousing ovation when she ran onto the court for pregame introductions. After committing a turnover in the opening minute, she hit her first shot to give the Comets a 6-0 lead.

“I was a little nervous coming in. I didn’t know how it would turn out but Sheryl played an excellent game,” Cooper said. “It was a total team effort. We had two starters out but we came in and played great basketball. I think after this game, I’ll be able to settle down and play basketball. I just needed to get this game out of the way.”

Houston's Mfon Udoka, left, battles for a loose ball with Seattle's Lauren Jackson. The Comets won the season-opener for both teams, 75-64, Thursday in Houston.

The Storm shot terribly in the first half, hitting only one of their first nine shots and three of their first 15 as the Comets took a 14-7 lead with 12:07 to go.

Seattle cut the lead to 18-15 after seven straight points by Bird before Houston went on a 19-7 spurt. Cooper had nine of her 11 first-half points over the final 6:39.

Janeth Arcain added 10 points for Houston. Lauren Jackson had 15 points and Adia Barnes and Sandy Brondello added 10 each for the Storm.

Monarchs 65, Mercury 56

Phoenix — Yolanda Griffith had 27 points, 11 rebounds and five steals for Sacramento. Edna Campbell added 13 points and Tangela Smith scored 11 for the Monarchs, who won 11 of their last 14 in 2002 and opened this season with a win. Edwina Brown had 15 points and Tamicha Jackson 13, but Brown was 4-for-14 from the floor, and Jackson was 6-for-21 as the Mercury shot 31.3 percent.