Sparks stars sit out loss to Atlanta
Angel McCoughtry scored 23 points and the host Atlanta Dream routed the short-handed Sparks, 90-60, Wednesday for Coach Michael Cooper’s 200th WNBA victory.
The Sparks sat out Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike and Alana Beard after securing their 15th playoff spot in 17 years Sunday. Jantel Lavender’s 14 points led the Sparks (14-19), who had won 11 of 15.
The Lakers signed guard Marcelo Huertas. Details of the one-year deal were not released. . . . The Philadelphia 76ers signed point guard Kendall Marshall. . . . Texas Christian guard Hudson Price is transferring to Charlotte to play for his father, former NBA star Mark Price. Hudson Price will have to sit out the 2015-16 season because of NCAA transfer rules. He has two years of eligibility left.
Tennessee defensive tackle Danny O’Brien has been suspended for an unspecified violation of team rules and policies, according to Volunteers Coach Butch Jones, who said that the junior would miss Saturday’s game against No. 19 Oklahoma and that no timetable was set for his return. Senior receiver Alton “Pig ” Howard is expected to play after sitting out the Bowling Green game because of a violation of team rules.
The PGA Championship is returning to Oak Hill at Pittsford, N.Y., in 2023 for the fourth time. Jason Dufner won the PGA Championship when it was held two years ago at Oak Hill.
Vancouver Canucks Coach Willie Desjardins will miss training camp after undergoing hip surgery, but the team expects he’ll be ready for the season opener next month.
NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin expects to race Saturday at Richmond, Va., despite a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Hamlin suffered the injury while playing basketball Tuesday.
Internal affairs detectives in New York are investigating claims by former tennis professional James Blake that he was thrown to the ground and then handcuffed while mistakenly being arrested Wednesday at a hotel, police said. Blake, who’s biracial, told the Daily News he wasn’t sure if he was arrested because of his race but said the officer who put him in handcuffs inappropriately used force.
FIFA presidential contender Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan launched his second bid for soccer’s top office. The prince is chasing former ally Michel Platini, the front-runner.
Australia’s two-match series in the United States to face the Women’s World Cup champions has been called off as negotiations continue over a new collective bargaining agreement, according to the Professional Footballers Australia, a union representing male and female players. However, News Corp Australia reported that six players, including captain Lisa De Vanna, had broken ranks with the union and still hoped to play the U.S. match.
Peru’s Olympic Committee announced that marathon runner Gladys Tejeda has been stripped of the gold medal she won in Toronto in July in the Pan American Games because of doping.
The governing body for Texas high school sports questioned whether the coaches of two football players accused of intentionally ramming a referee should have done more to calm emotions in a tense game. The University Interscholastic League’s executive committee heard from local officials on their investigation into the incident involving San Antonio Jay High School.