Tina Thompson sets scoring mark

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LOS ANGELES -- Sparks forward Tina Thompson became the WNBA's all-time leading scorer Sunday night against the San Antonio Silver Stars.

Thompson surpassed Lisa Leslie's career total of 6,263 points when Thompson hit a 16-footer with 5:01 left in the third quarter. Leslie, who played for Los Angeles for her entire career, retired last year.

"Basketball started here in L.A. for me," said Thompson, who attended Southern California, after scoring 23 points in the Sparks' 92-83 loss. "Anything I'm able to accomplish here is a pretty big deal because it's in front of my family, my friends and the people who supported me."

Los Angeles coach Jennifer Gillom said she was relieved that Thompson set the record.

"I just think it was a distraction," Gillom said. "There's been a lot of talk about it. I'm just glad that it's over with so we can get that out of our heads and start focusing on winning games."

Thompson is the last of the original WNBA players. The now-defunct Houston Comets selected Thompson from Southern California with the first pick of the 1997 WNBA draft.

When the Comets folded after the 2008 season, Thompson signed with the Sparks as a free-agent.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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