Seattle waives former three-time WNBA guard Swoopes

SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle Storm has waived veteran guard Sheryl Swoopes.

Coach Brian Agler says the weekend move was made to clear space under the $803,000 salary cap. The 37-year-old Swoopes' 2009 contract would have become guaranteed on Sunday.

Swoopes was recuperating from back surgery when she signed with the Storm as a free agent last March.

The Storm had high hopes for last season after adding three-time WNBA MVP Swoopes, Swin Cash and Yolanda Griffith to an all-star lineup that included Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson. The team finished a franchise best 22-12, but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Swoopes was slowed by injuries and averaged 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 29 games last season

Summitt denied 1,000th win in loss to Sooners

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Pat Summitt walked off the court still stuck on 999 wins. Courtney Paris bounded away with tears of joy despite her remarkable double-double streak coming to an end.

Paris had gotten a double-double in an NCAA-record 112 straight games before coming up just short against No. 12 Tennessee. Whitney Hand matched her career high with 20 points to help second-ranked Oklahoma beat the Lady Vols 80-70 on Monday night for the Sooners' 15th straight victory.

Summitt will be stuck on 999 until at least Thursday night, when the Lady Vols host Georgia.

"I'm not concerned about a number for me," Summitt said. "I'm concerned about this basketball team investing in our system and not picking and choosing when they want to play hard."

Garden party: Kobe's 61 points sets MSG record

NEW YORK (AP) - Kobe Bryant had plenty of incentive to deliver a special night at Madison Square Garden — and he unleashed the biggest game the present building has seen.

Bryant broke the current arena record with 61 points, and the Los Angeles Lakers looked plenty potent without Bynum in a 126-117 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night.

"It's a blessing to do what you love and to have moments like this," Bryant said.

Bryant passed Michael Jordan's opponent record of 55 points at the present building, known as "Garden IV," then bettered Bernard King's mark of 60, set in 1984. Bryant, whose total is the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season, left to a loud ovation after the 24th 50-point game of his career.