Griner’s 25 points lead Phoenix in WNBA win
Brittney Griner had 25 points and eight rebounds, DeWanna Bonner added 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists and the Phoenix Mercury (76) rolled to a 9168 victory in Washington on Wednesday for their fifth win in six games. Tianna Hawkins led the Mystics (95) with 24 points and seven rebounds. Washington forward Elena Delle Donne did not play because of a nasal fracture.
Liz Cambage had 19 points to help Las Vegas (105) to a 7471 win at Indianapolis (610) . ... Tiffany Hayes scored 18 points as Atlanta (410) earned a 7875 home victory over Connecticut (96) . ... Odyssey Sims hit the goahead jumper with 6.4 seconds left as Minnesota (96) picked up a 7372 win at Chicago (78).
NFL suspends Tampa Bay corner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ryan Smith has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancers.
“We are disappointed that Ryan will be unavailable for the first four games of the season,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said. “We do extensive training and education for our players regarding the league’s polices, but ultimately each individual is responsible for what they put in their bodies.”
Smith was a fourthround pick in 2016 by Tampa Bay.
Two former NFL players are among the six new officials for the coming NFL season. Field judge Nate Jones joins the NFL officiating staff from the Pac12, following an eightyear pro career as a defensive back. Umpire Terry Killens was a linebacker during his seven NFL seasons before officiating in the American Athletic Conference. The other firstyear officials are side judges Dave Hawkshaw and Jimmy Russell, down judge Patrick Holt and line judge Tripp Sutter. College basketball: Guard Damari Milstead has transferred from Grand Canyon to USF. Per NCAA transfer rules, Milstead will redshirt the coming season and will have two years of eligibility when he begins playing for the Dons in the 202021 season. Milstead, who’s 6foot2, 190 pounds, averaged 10.3 points and 3.6 assists per game last season with the Lopes. As a senior at Moreau CatholicHayward in 201617, he was The Chronicle’s Metro Player of the Year.
— Steve Kroner NHL: Forward Micheal Ferland has signed a fouryear deal with the Vancouver Canucks. The 27yearold’s contract carries an average annual value of $3.5 million. Ferland was an unrestricted free agent after putting up 40 points in 71 games for Carolina this past season. Soccer: A Liverpool fan filmed pushing a man into a fountain before a Champions League semifinal in Barcelona has been banned from attending all games for three years.
Merseyside Police said 57yearold Anthony Mullen appeared at a criminal court in Bootle, near Liverpool, on Wednesday.