WNBA: Candace Parker injures right knee; MRI scheduled for Monday

Candace Parker will fly to Los Angeles on Monday to receive an MRI on her right knee that she injured during a game in New York on Sunday, the Sparks announced Sunday evening.

Parker injured her right knee after making contact with Quanitra Hollingsworth while trying to dribble around the 6-foot-5 center following a defensive rebound with about six minutes remaining in the third quarter of a 77-67 loss to the Liberty.

Parker immediately fell to the ground and grabbed her right knee. She limped to the locker room and did not return to the game. She was averaging 18 points and 9.7 rebounds for the Sparks (4-3).

Parker, the 2008 most valuable player and rookie of the year, has played in only 35 of a possible 68 regular-season games the last two seasons. She missed the first month of the 2009 season after giving birth to her daughter and she played in only 10 games last season after she dislocated her left shoulder and needed surgery last June. She also had surgery on a torn lateral meniscus in her left knee in September. 

"It’s tough but we’re hoping everything is all right," Sparks' Coach Jennifer Gillom told reporters after the game. "We’ve played without her before, so we just have to focus on getting to the next game and playing hard and having people step up. She just said, 'Keep me in your prayers,' and that’s all we can do for her right now and just hope for the best. She’s in good spirits, which is a good thing.”

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Sparks forward Candace Parker scoring on a layup against the Minnesota Lynx earlier this season. Credit: Lori Shepler / Associated Press

WNBA: Sparks cut Courtney Paris to finalize roster

The Sparks finalized their roster Thursday after cutting center Courtney Paris.

The 6-foot-4 Paris was the seventh overall pick in the 2009 draft, by Sacramento, where she averaged 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 33 games. She was waived by Chicago during the 2010 preseason.

The Sparks play the Minnesota Lynx on Friday in the league opener at Staples Center at 8 p.m.

Here is the roster:

No.      Name                                      Pos.    Ht.       Wt.      Birth date   College/From       Exp.     Hometown
16    Ebony Hoffman                       F          6-2       215      8/27/82        USC                         7          Harbor City, CA
42    Jantel Lavender                      C          6-4       220      11/12/88      Ohio State               R          Cleveland, OH
1      Natasha Lacy                          G         5-10     165      7/8/85          Texas-El Paso         1          El Paso, TX
8      DeLisha Milton-Jones              F          6-1       185      9/11/74        Florida                     12        Hinesville, GA
6      Jenna O’Hea                            G         6-1       174      6/6/87          Australia                  R          Melbourne, Australia
3      Candace Parker                      F/C       6-4       175      4/19/86        Tennessee              3          Naperville, IL
21    Ticha Penicheiro                      G         5-11     146      9/18/74        Old Dominion           13        Figueira da Foz, Portugal
30    LaToya Pringle                        F          6-3       170      9/11/86        North Carolina         2          Fayetteville, NC
45    Noelle Quinn                            G         6-0       175      1/3/85          UCLA                       4          Los Angeles, CA
32    Tina Thompson                        F          6-2       178      2/10/75        USC                         14        Inglewood, CA
20    Kristi Toliver                            G         5-7       130      1/27/87        Maryland                 2          Harrisonberg, VA

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Sparks players gather in a huddle before an exhibition against Seattle on May 25. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times.

WNBA: The Sparks trade Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton

The Sparks traded 6-foot-2 forward Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton to the Chicago Sky in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2012 WNBA draft, the team announced Wednesday.

Wisdom-Hylton has been close friends with Sparks' star Candace Parker since middle school, when they played on the same club basketball team in Napperville, Ill.

In a recent interview, Wisdom-Hylton said, "It's one of those friendships where you go to her house to stay for the night and end up staying three."

Wisdom-Hylton, who was drafted by the Sparks as the 13th overall pick in 2009,  averaged 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 61 career regular-season games with the team.

The Sparks now have five picks in the 2012 WNBA draft, after trading Andrea Riley to the Tulsa Shock in February in exchange for a second-round pick.

The Sparks have to cut one player by Thursday, before their season opener Friday against the Minnesota Lynx and No. 1 pick Maya Moore.

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Seattle Storm will win another title, GMs say

Poll: Who deserves a statue outside of Staples Center first, Shaquille O'Neal or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

-- Melissa Rohlin

WNBA: Seattle Storm will win another title, GMs say

Fifty eight percent of the 12 WNBA general managers predicted the Seattle Storm will repeat as champions, according to the annual survey of general managers, released Wednesday.

The Storm went 28-6 last season and swept the Sparks, Phoenix Mercury and Atlanta Dream out of the playoffs en route to their second championship. The Storm returns defending WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson, Sue Bird and Swin Cash and has added Katie Smith to its roster.

Other interesting tidbits from the survey:

-- The Phoenix Mercury was considered the most fun team to watch, with 66% of the votes.

-- The Minnesota Lynx, which drafted No. 1 pick Maya Moore, was voted most improved, with 50% of the votes.

-- Diana Taurasi was voted most likely to win MVP, with 33% of the votes.

-- Moore received 33% of the votes to win in the category of the player general managers would sign if starting a franchise today, edging both Candace Parker (17%) and Taurasi (17%).

Read more of the complete survey results. The Sparks, who play in the season opener against the Minnesota Lynx on June 3, were unanimously predicted to reach the Western Conference playoffs.

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Sparks trade Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton

Shaquille O'Neal announces his retirement

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Seattle Storm's Swin Cash, left, Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson pose for a photo during the team's media day event on Friday. Credit: Elaine Thompson / Associated Press

Former Sparks player Margo Dydek dies at 37

A week after suffering a heart attack, former Sparks player Margo Dydek died Friday in Brisbane, Australia. She was 37.

Dydek was pregnant with her third child when she suffered a heart attack on May 19. She was put in a medically induced coma.

The 7-foot-2 center was the No. 1 pick in the 1998 draft by the Utah Starzz. She also played for San Antonio, Connecticut and two games in 2008 for the Sparks.

She was once considered to be the tallest active women's basketball player in the world.

"The WNBA is deeply saddened by the passing of Margo Dydek," WNBA President Laurel Richie said in a statement.  "She was a tremendous person, role model and athlete who touched the lives of her many fans and made an indelible mark on women's basketball around the world.  Our thoughts and prayers are with her family."

Read more here.

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Notable deaths of 2011

Notable sports deaths of 2011

--Melissa Rohlin

 Photo: Margo Dydek. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Associated Press.

WNBA: Candace Parker leads Sparks to exhibition win over Seattle

Candace Parker had 17 points and five rebounds to lead the Sparks to a 71-66 victory over the defending champion Seattle Storm in their first exhibition game of the season Wednesday at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The Sparks led by as many as 18-points before the Storm went on a 12-2 run in the third quarter and a 9-0 run to open the fourth. The Storm took its first lead of the second half at 57-56 when Belinda Snell converted a four-point play after being fouled while shooting a three-pointer with 6:52 remaining.

Natasha Lacy, a guard who played in 16 games last season for the Tulsa Shock, scored five of her nine points in the final minutes to give the Sparks momentum as they went on an 8-2 run for the win.

"Natasha Lacy won a position," said Sparks Coach Jennifer Gillom. 

Former WNBA player Margo Dydek has heart attack

Former Sparks player Margo Dydek is in a medically induced coma in a Brisbane, Australia, hospital after suffering a heart attack Thursday.

The 37-year-old, who is pregnant with her third child, collapsed at her home in Brisbane and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, the Associated Press reported. She had been working as a coach for the Northside Wizards in the Queensland Basketball League.

Dydek, 7-foot-2, was selected by the Utah Starzz as the first overall pick in the 1998 draft. A two-time all-star, she also played for the San Antonio Silver Stars, Connecticut Sun and two games for the Sparks in 2008.

She had a career average of 10 points and 6.6 rebounds and was once said to be the tallest active women's professional basketball player in the world.

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The Sparks are in good spirits at media day [Video]

Laurel Richie named WNBA president

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Margo Dydek. Credit: Danny Moloshok / Associated Press.

WNBA: The Sparks are in good spirits at media day [Video]

At the Sparks' media day Wednesday, the players spoke candidly about their disappointment with being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last season.

"My expecations for this season are simple," Milton-Jones said, "do a lot better than we did last year."

That seems like a very reasonable goal.

After Candace Parker suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last June, the Sparks were left with a gaping hole down low.

She underwent surgery and a painful six-month rehabilitation process and now insists that she's finally returned to top form.

"I got healthy and was able to really concentrate and take care of my body for the first time in a while," Parker said.

Laurel Richie named WNBA president

Laurel Richie, a veteran marketing executive, has been named president of the WNBA.

Richie served most recently as senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., where she was responsible for the organization's brand, communications, publishing, marketing and Web-based initiatives. She has more than three decades of experience in consumer marketing, corporate branding and corporate management.

She will start on May 16 and will report to NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver. Richie succeeds Donna Orender, who stepped down after the 2010 season to launch her own company.

“Laurel combines extraordinary marketing and brand management skills, with a tremendous enthusiasm to help evolve young women into leaders,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement. “She joins the WNBA at such an exciting time in its history and we know her expertise will be key to continuing the growth and success of the league.”

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Sparks pick Ohio State's Jantel Lavender fifth overall in WNBA draft

Reliving all 214 of Blake Griffin's dunks from 2010-11

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Laurel Richie. Credit: Associated Press

Sparks pick Ohio State's Jantel Lavender fifth overall in WNBA draft

The Sparks drafted 6-foot-4 center Jantel Lavender from Ohio State with the fifth overall pick during the WNBA draft on Monday in Bristol, Conn.

Lavender averaged 22.8 points and 10.9 rebounds last season and is Ohio State's all-time leading scorer (2,818 points) and the Big Ten's all-time leading rebounder (1,422).

She's known for her strong mid-range jumper and her physical style of play. Her presence down low will help take pressure off 2008 MVP and Rookie of the Year Candace Parker, who missed last season due to a shoulder surgery.

The Sparks finished the 2010 season with a record of 13-21 and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual WNBA champion Seattle Storm.

The team will play the Minnesota Lynx on June 3 in their season opener. The Lynx drafted Connecticut star Maya Moore with the No. 1 pick and Xavier's Amber Harris with the No. 4 selection.

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Dunk shot reinstated in college basketball 35 years ago this week

Basketball star, assistant coach indicted in point-fixing scheme at University of San Diego, UC Riverside

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Jantel Lavender. Credit: Greg Bartram / US Presswire

WNBA: Sparks sign Jenna O'Hea

The Sparks signed Jenna O'Hea to a free-agent contract, the team announced Thursday.

A 6-foot-1 guard, O'Hea averaged 12.1 points and four rebounds for the Bulleen Melbourne Boomers during the 2010-11 season. She played for the Australian Senior National team in 2009 and was named to the Opals' 2010 FIBA World Championship squad.

"I'm really excited about this opportunity to play with the Sparks," said O'Hea, 23, in a news release. "I know both Coach [Jennifer] Gillom and coach [Sandy] Brondello well, and I'm looking forward to working with them and playing alongside some of the world's best players."

The Sparks open the 2011 season on June 3 against the Minnesota Lynx.

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Lakers might get some divine intervention in big game with Mavericks

-- Melissa Rohlin