SEATTLE(AP) - Sue Bird scored 21 points to lead five players in double figures, and the Seattle Storm beat the Connecticut Sun 86-74 Thursday night to earn their sixth consecutive playoff berth.

Swin Cash and Lauren Jackson had 17 points apiece for Seattle (17-11), in second place behind Phoenix in the Western Conference. Tanisha Wright added 15 points and Camille Little 13.

Bird also had seven assists, as the Storm won their fourth straight game and ended a seven-game losing streak to the Sun over the last four years.

Lindsay Whalen had 18 points to lead Connecticut (14-14), which never led. The Sun missed an opportunity to move into a tie for second with Atlanta in the Eastern Conference.