Newsmakers

Announced U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez said Sloane Stephens will lead the U.S. Fed Cup tennis team that is without the Williams sisters for the World Group first-round match against Italy on Feb. 9-10. Also included on the team are doubles specialist Liezel Huber and Varvara Lepchenko and Jamie Hampton. Stephens is ranked a career-high No. 17 after beating Serena Williams to reach the Australian Open semifinals.

• ArenaBowl XXVI will be played at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 17. The Arena Football League championship will be televised by CBS.

Admitted Golfer Vijay Singh has admitted he used deer-antler spray, saying he wasn’t aware that it may contain a substance banned by the PGA Tour. Sports Illustrated reported that Singh, 49, paid one of Sports With Alternatives To Steroids’ owners $9,000 last November for the spray and other products.

Unveiled German soccer team Schalke has unveiled a plaque outside its stadium in Gelsenkirchen with a ceremony to commemorate nine Jewish members and supporters who perished in the Holocaust. Israeli singer Yael Izkovich opened the ceremony Wednesday, 80 years to the day after Adolf Hitler assumed power.

Transferred D.C. United midfielder Andy Najar has been transferred to Belgian club Anderlecht. Najar, 19, had 10 goals and 11 assists over three seasons with United.

Loaned Sporting Kansas City has loaned Kei Kamara, who had 11 goals last season, to Norwich FC in a deal that will keep the forward with the English Premier League club through at least May 6.

Agreed The San Diego Padres and Chase Headley have avoided salary arbitration, agreeing on an $8,575,000, one-year contract. The third baseman earned a $5.1 million raise following his huge 2012 season.

• The Seattle Mariners and Shawn Kelley have agreed to a $935,000, one-year contract that avoids salary arbitration.

• The Los Angeles Angels and reliever Kevin Jepsen have agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.2 million, avoiding arbitration with the hard-throwing right-hander.