MIAMI -- Kara Wolters, outplayed for much of the game, scored six of her eight points in the final six minutes as the Indiana Fever beat the Miami Sol 57-54 Thursday night in the opener for both expansion teams.
The Fever overcame a 17-point second-half deficit, and Wolters added a key block in the closing seconds for the victory.Alicia Thompson led the Fever with 13 points, and Monica Maxwell and Rita Williams had nine each.
Marlies Askamp had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Debbie Black added 13 points and four assists for Miami.
MIRACLE 82, STING 79: At Orlando, Fla., Nykesha Sales scored 24 points, and Orlando held off a late charge by Charlotte to win its home opener.
Shannon Johnson added 16 points, Adrienne Johnson 14 and Taj McWilliams 11 for Orlando.
Charlotte cut Orlando's lead to 80-79 on a layup and foul shot by Rhonda Mapp with 33.5 seconds remaining. Shannon Johnson was fouled and hit both free throws for the final margin. Charlotte Smith's game-tying 3-point attempt was short.
Andrea Stinson led Charlotte with 18. Smith added 15 and Mapp 10 for the Sting, who shot 7-of-14 from 3-point range.
COMETS 77, STORM 47: At Seattle, Tina Thompson had 19 points and nine rebounds, and Sheryl Swoopes scored 20 points in Houston's rout of Seattle.
Cynthia Cooper added 13 points for the Comets, the three-time defending WNBA champions.
Quacy Barnes led expansion Seattle with 16 points.
Kamila Vodichkova, who scored 20 in a loss to Sacramento on Wednesday night, was ineffective for Seattle. The 6-foot-4 Vodichkova scored just seven points while playing 25 minutes.