Sparks trade Johnson to Mercury

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Sparks have traded point guard Temeka Johnson to Phoenix in exchange for the Mercury's 2010 first-round draft pick.

Johnson averaged 6.4 point and 4.0 assists in 66 career games with the Sparks, who announced the trade Thursday. She came to Los Angeles in March 2006 along with Murriel Page when the Sparks traded Nikki Teasley to Washington.

Johnson, the 2005 WNBA rookie of the year, was selected by the Mystics sixth overall in the first round in 2005.

The Sparks open the season June 6 against defending WNBA champion Detroit.