Marion Jones' path to stardom in the WNBA won't be a sprint. The disgraced former Olympic athletics champion had little impact in limited playing time in her debut for Tulsa Saturday night as the relocated Shock lost their inaugural game in their new hometown 80-74 to the Minnesota Lynx. Jones, who won a national collegiate basketball championship for North Carolina, made her return to basketball after more than a decade away. In between, she was stripped of her five Olympic track medals – including three golds – and served time in prison for lying to federal investigators. Jones played less than 4 minutes and watched most of the action from the bench. Charde Houston scored 17 of her 21 points in the second half for Minnesota. Mercury 78, Sparks 77: At Phoenix, Australian Penny Taylor hit two free throws with 1.5 seconds left to lift the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury over the Los Angeles Sparks. Sun 74, Sky 61: At Uncasville, Tina Charles had 17 points and 10 rebounds in her pro debut as Connecticut opened its season with a home win. Mystics 72, Fever 65: At Indianapolis, Monique Currie scored 21 points and Crystal Langhorne added 19 to help the Washington Mystics beat Indiana in the season opener for both teams. Dream 75, Silver Stars 70: At San Antonio, Iziane Castro-Marques scored 23 points and Angel McCoughtry added 20 as the visiting Atlanta Dream held off the Silver Stars.
