The top-seeded Seattle Storm swept its best-of-three Western Conference semifinal series against the fourth-seeded Sparks with an 81-66 victory at Staples Center.
The Storm entered the fourth quarter with a 64-54 advantage and never saw its lead fall to single digits from there.
This is the first time the Storm has advanced past the semifinals since 2004 when it won the WNBA championship.
Lauren Jackson had a game-high 24 points for Seattle. Tina Thompson led the Sparks with 18 points, Noelle Quinn had 15 and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 13 for L.A.
The Storm out-rebounded the Sparks, 34-27, and shot 47.5% from the field to the Sparks' 37.5%.
-- Melissa Rohlin
Photo: Storm center Lauren Jackson takes a shot over the double-team defense of the Sparks' Delisha Milton-Jones and Tina Thompson during the first half Saturday. Credit: Gus Ruelas / Associated Press