SEATTLE: The Seattle Storm opened its WNBA title defense with a 78-71 win over of the Phoenix Mercury Saturday. Sue Bird scored 13 points and handed out 10 assists while Camille Little scored 18 points as Seattle built a big fourth-quarter lead and then watched Phoenix's Diana Taurasi try to rally the Mercury in the closing seconds. In Uncasville, Connecticut, Tina Charles had 18 points and six rebounds to lead Connecticut over Washington 89-73. In other games it was: Fever 65, Sky 57; Silver Stars 93, Shock 73.