WASHINGTON, May 20 (Xinhua) -- The defending champion Sacramento Monarchs with Erin Buescher's career-high 18 points downed the Phoenix Mercury 105-78 in the WNBA season opener on Saturday before a sellout crowd at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

    Nicole Powell and Yolanda Griffith both scored 14 points for the Monarchs, who never trailed after a huge second quarter.

    Diana Taurasi, who was bothered by a quadriceps injury, played 26 minutes to lead the Mercury with 14 points. Tamicha Jackson also scored 14 points and Ann Strother made four 3-pointers and had 12 points.

    At Uncasville, Connecticut, Nykesha Sales scored 19 points and matched a career high with 10 rebounds to lead the Sun to their first season-opening win 91-74 over the Liberty since they moved from Orlando to Connecticut four years ago.

    Becky Hammon led New York with 20 points and four assists.

    At Charlotte, North Carolina, Jia Perkins made three free throws with one second remaining, lifting expansion Chicago Sky 83-82 over the Charlotte Sky.

    Chicago's Candice Dupree, a rookie from Temple, scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds. Chelsea Newton and Stacey Lovelace each scored 12 points for the Sky.

    Sheri Sam led Charlotte with 17 points. Bond added 15 and Tangela Smith scored 14.

    At Indianapolis, Tamika Catchings had 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Ebony Hoffman added 13 points and a career-high 13 rebounds tolead the Indiana Fever past the Detroit Shock, 67-60.

    Katie Smith scored 19 points to lead Detroit. Cheryl Ford added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds for Shock, who only shot 37 pencent. Enditem