Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Currie taken first in WNBA dispersal draft

The Spokesman-Review

Guard Monique Currie was selected by the Chicago Sky with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA dispersal draft on Monday in Charlotte, N.C.

Currie was one of 11 former Charlotte Sting players taken. The Sting, an original member of the WNBA, folded after 10 seasons.

Tangela Smith was selected No. 2 by the Minnesota Lynx, and New York took Janel McCarville with the third pick.

The rest of the draft went as follows: guard Helen Darling to San Antonio, Kelly Mazzante to Phoenix, Teana Miller to Washington, Tye’sha Fluker to Seattle, Yelena Leuchanka to Houston, Sheri Sam to Indiana, LaToya Bond to Sacramento, and Ayana Walker to Los Angeles.

“South Carolina men’s coach Dave Odom received a two-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season.

“BYU player Rashaun Broadus was suspended for the season after being arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Provo, Utah.

“Kansas State freshman Bill Walker will have surgery on his left knee and be out for the rest of the season.

“Former University of Maryland player Travis Garrison won’t have to serve time in prison or register as a sex offender after a judge modified his sentence in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Baseball

Johnson takes physical

Randy Johnson took his physical, and the Arizona Diamondbacks scheduled a news conference for today as their deal to reacquire the Big Unit from the New York Yankees neared completion.

“Chicago White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe plans to play in the major leagues this year despite ongoing legal troubles in his Caribbean homeland.

“Reliever Duaner Sanchez and the New York Mets closed on an $850,000, one-year contract.

“Right-hander Dan Wheeler agreed to a $2.1 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros.

Tennis

Williams gets win

Former top-ranked Serena Williams beat Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden in a first-round match at the Hobart International in Hobart, Australia, ending a four-month injury layoff.

“Unseeded Jelena Jankovic upset fifth-seeded Martina Hingis in three sets in the first round of the Sydney International in Sydney, Australia.

In men’s play, Marcos Baghdatis beat Ernests Gulbis.

Miscellany

Skier leaves ICU

Olympic bronze medalist skier Sandra Laoura of France left intensive care but it’s still uncertain whether she will regain use of her legs after a training accident in Montreal.

“Pyeongchang, South Korea; Salzburg, Austria; and Sochi, Russia, the three cities hoping to host the 2014 Winter Games, completed their final bids, which will be handed over to the International Olympic Committee by Wednesday’s deadline.

The IOC will select the host city July 4 in Guatemala City.

“The U.S. Olympic Committee is expected to announce plans today to move forward in the process to have Chicago or Los Angeles bid to host the 2016 Olympics.

“Bob Ehrhart, the longtime Drake Relays director and former Drake track and cross country coach, has died of cancer. He was 75.