Digest: Mystics edged by Mercury on Prahalis' late shot

Toliver's 14 free throws help Sparks defeat Shock

Et cetera

Prahalis helps Mercury edge Mystics

Samantha Prahalis hit a jumper with 23.2 seconds to play to help the host Phoenix Mercury to an 80-77 win over the Washington Mystics. Prahalis had 15 points and seven rebounds, DeWanna Bonner added 19 points and seven boards while Krystal Thomas donated 15 and six for the Mercury, which ended a three-game losing streak. Michelle Snow posted 21 points and nine rebounds while Monique Currie had 20 points and six boards for the Mystics, who have lost their past two games. With the Mystics holding a two-point lead after Snow completed a three-point play, Prahalis hit a jumper to tie the game with 57.5 seconds to play. After a miss by Crystal Langhorne (Maryland), Prahalis came down with the rebound and Phoenix called timeout. Prahalis then hit the go-ahead jumper and Currie missed a pair of jumpers at the other end. The final one came with 4.9 seconds to play and Avery Warley came down with the rebound as Phoenix held on for the win.

More WNBA: Candace Parker scored 33 points, pulled down eight rebounds and recorded a career-high nine blocks as the host Los Angeles Sparks cruised to a 95-79 win over the Tulsa Shock. Kristi Toliver (Maryland) made 14 of 14 from the foul line en route to 22 points for the Sparks, who also got 15 points from DeLisha Milton-Jones to remain undefeated at home (6-0). Glory Johnson scored a team-high 19 points for the Shock, but Tulsa was unable to build off its first win of the season. The Shock had lost 15 in a row dating to last season before upending the Mercury on Sunday, then allowed the Sparks to shoot 55 percent from the field Wednesday.

Baseball: Baltimore Sun columnist Peter Schmuck and three other former Orioles beat reporters at The Baltimore Sun will participate in a Sun Newsmaker Forum about the team tonight from 6:30 to 8p.m. at Johns Hopkins' Shriver Hall. Schmuck will be joined by ESPN's Tim Kurkjian, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal and MASN's Roch Kubatko to discuss their thoughts about covering the Orioles during their Camden Yards era. The event is part of the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation's summer series celebrating "20 Years at The Yard." Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by contacting Whitney Edmonds at [e-mail] or calling 410-727-1539, ext. 3033. Proceeds will benefit the foundation.

Minor league baseball: The Double-A Bowie Baysox will host Hockey for Hope Night on Friday against the Reading Phillies at 7:05 p.m. Former Washington Capitals Gordie Lane and Alan Hangsleben will sign autographs during a session held by Hockey4Hope, an organization that helps fight the late effects of childhood cancer and multiple sclerosis. The session is free, but donations of $10 are suggested. … Hagerstown Suns pitcher Alex Meyer was named the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week.

Sailing: The Junior Olympic Sailing Festival will be held at the Annapolis Youth Yacht Club beginning July 5. The festival will have youth clinics followed by Olympic-style opening ceremonies featuring ESPN personality Gary Jobson. Five fleets of boats will start the competition July 6 with closing ceremonies July 8. Olympic silver-medal winner Scott Steele will present awards during the closing ceremonies. For information, go to annapolisyc.org/juniorolympics.

Hockey: Washington Capitals assistant Dean Evason, 47, was hired to coach the Milwaukee Admirals, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Nashville Predators. Evason has spent the past seven years with the Capitals and is credited with shaping their penalty-kill unit.

—Katie Carrera, The Washington Post

Cheerleading: The Maryland Marlins All-Stars will hold private tryout sessions for the 2012-2013 season Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Positions are available at all age and levels, including travel, nontravel and worlds-eligible teams. For information, call 410-796-2244.

—From Sun staff and news services