WNBA: Detroit 77, San Antonio 69

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Kara Braxton ignited a streak of eight straight points to end the game Wednesday, giving Detroit a 77-69 win over San Antonio in the opener of the WNBA Finals.

Katie Smith and Taj McWilliams-Franklin teamed to score 49 points and the Shock, playing in their third straight championship series, stole home-court advantage in the best-of-five showdown.

San Antonio rallied from a 14-point deficit to forge a 69-69 tie with less than three minutes remaining, but the Silver Stars could not score again.

Braxton put Detroit in front with a layup, Smith hit a jump shot, and both McWilliams-Franklin and Alexis Hornbuckle made two free throws to round out the scoring.

Smith had 25 points for Detroit, which lost both its regular-season encounters with San Antonio. Sophia Young led San Antonio with 21.

The Silver Stars will host the second game of the series Friday.