WNBA REFS BOTCH CALL AGAIN, THIS ONE IN DECISIVE GAME 5
new york» For the second time in a week during the WNBA Finals, the league acknowledged a late officiating mistake.
The WNBA said the officials missed a shot-clock violation in the deciding Game 5 on Thursday night in which the Los Angeles Sparks beat the defending champion Minnesota Lynx 77-76.
“After reviewing postgame video, we have determined that Nneka Ogwumike’s shot with 1:14 remaining in regulation time should not have counted due to a shot-clock violation, and that the referees improperly failed to review the play under the instant replay rules,” Renee Brown, WNBA chief of basketball operations and player relations, said in a statement Friday.
Ogwumike’s jumper with 3.1 seconds left, off the rebound of her blocked shot, won it for the Sparks.
The league earlier this week admitted a mistake after officials missed an eight-second backcourt violation that benefited Minnesota late in Game 4 on Sunday. The Lynx scored on that possession for a four-point lead with 12.5 seconds left and won 85-79.
Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve was angry in her postgame news conference Thursday night about both missed calls, saying the league needed to do more than just apologize and “send a memo.”
WNBA rules state in the final two minutes of a game, plays are only reviewable immediately. Earlier in the game, time can elapse and plays can still be reviewed.
Noel needs surgery on left knee
B philadelphia» The Philadelphia 76ers said forward Nerlens Noel will need surgery on his left knee.
The Sixers announced Friday that Noel elected to have surgery after consulting with several specialists. Noel missed his entire rookie season while recovering from surgery on his left knee, but this latest procedure is arthroscopic and considered to be minor.
No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons will likely be out until January while he rehabs from right foot surgery.
• San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green will miss three weeks after straining his left quadriceps.
Hamilton fastest in first practice
B austin, texas» Defending champion Lewis Hamilton posted the fastest lap of the first practice at the U.S. Grand Prix as he seeks to make a late charge at Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in the championship chase.
Hamilton’s fastest lap was in 1 minute, 37.428 seconds. Rosberg was second, 0.315 seconds behind.
Hamilton trails Rosberg by 33 points in the standings heading into the final four races. That almost puts Hamilton in a must-win situation if he wants to have a realistic chance of retaining his title.
Win keeps Kuznetsova on track
B moscow» Top-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova beat fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-4 in the Kremlin Cup semifinals to remain on course to claim the eighth and last spot in the WTA Finals.
Kuznetsova will qualify for the finals in Singapore only if she wins this tournament. Otherwise, the place will go to Britain’s Johanna Konta.
• Top-seeded David Goffin beat Florian Mayer of Germany 7-5, 6-4 to ensure a Belgian made it through to the quarterfinals of the European Open.