LOS ANGELES >> Candace Parker cut through the lane to kiss the ball of the glass for the Sparks first basket of the night in their eventual 89-84 win over the Dallas Wings on Tuesday. Then, she pointed to the sky. Pat Summitt, the coach she had won two national titles with during her three seasons a...

In all honestly, who could have foreseen Clayton Kershaw trying to come back from back problems at this point in his career? The MRI probably shows the same thing that’s been plaguing Adrian Gonzalez for some time now. When you’re trying to hoist a franchise onto your shoulders, even Justin Tu er kn...

For young kids, playing Pop Wa er football is the first step to becoming the next NFL superstar. But long-time Long Beach Pop Wa er coach Louie Silva doesn’t see it that way. He sees Pop Wa er as a character builder. Over the last few decades, he’s used the game of football as a tool to teach valuab...

Left wing Milan Lucic’s one-season stint with the Kings officially ended Friday, only minutes after the NHL’s free-agency signing period began. Lucic signed a seven-year, $42-million contract with the Edmonton Oilers as an unrestricted free agent. In the end, and as expected, the deal was too rich a...

LONDON — Down a break in the final set and one point away from falling behind 3-0, Serena Williams refused to buckle on Centre Court. Facing the prospect of her earliest ever loss at Wimbledon, the six-time champion summoned her big-match experience — as well as her big serve — to overcome Christina...

The a ouncement last week that KSPN (710 AM) and The Sound (100.3 FM) would serve as dual carriers of the Rams when they retu to Los Angeles next season brought in a few responses, most agreeing with my position that the deal isn’t necessarily good for either station. I don’t plan to dwell on the is...

NBA bans OJ Mayo 2 years for drug violation O.J. Mayo has been dismissed and disqualified from the NBA for violating the terms of the league’s anti-drug program. (Brett Davis/The Associated Press) By The Associated Press NEW YORK — O.J. Mayo has been dismissed and disqualified from the NBA for viola...

In all honestly, who could have foreseen Clayton Kershaw trying to come back from back problems at this point in his career? The MRI probably shows the same thing that’s been plaguing Adrian Gonzalez for some time now. When you’re trying to hoist a franchise onto your shoulders, even Justin Tu er kn...

BEVERLY HILLS — The best way Sarah Hammer can describe her sport is organized chaos. The Redondo Beach native and Temecula Chaparral High School graduate will be competing in bicycle track racing at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. It is not just time-trial racing, one or two cyclists on the track ...

Left wing Milan Lucic’s one-season stint with the Kings officially ended Friday, only minutes after the NHL’s free-agency signing period began. Lucic signed with a seven-year, $42-million contract with the Edmonton Oilers as an unrestricted free agent. In the end, and as expected, the deal was too r...

Mikey Garcia of Oxnard was well known to anyone who followed boxing. Then he had a contract dispute with promoter Bob Arum and hasn’t fought for 2 1/2 years. That’s how fighters become forgotten. But Garcia, still just 28, was really good while wi ing world titles in two weight classes and going 34-...

Lakers Jodie Meeks scores against the Nuggets’ Timofey Mozgov at the Staple Center in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, January 5, 2014. 1st half. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze) The Los Angeles Lakers and Timofey Mozgov have agreed to four-year deal worth $64 million, according to The Vertical. View...

Lakers Jodie Meeks scores against the Nuggets’ Timofey Mozgov at the Staple Center in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, January 5, 2014. 1st half. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze) The Los Angeles Lakers and Timofey Mozgov have agreed to four-year deal worth $64 million, according to The Vertical. View...

The Lakers may have struck out on landing a marquee free agent. But they managed to keep one of their rising stars from leaving. The Lakers and second-year guard Jordan Clarkson agreed to a four-year deal worth $50 million, according to league sources. The deal ca ot be signed until the NBA moratori...

The Lakers did not waste any time addressing the biggest hole in their roster. Even if it cost the Lakers plenty of money. Even if it involved pursuing a player that had a recently limited role. In a move that reflected the Lakers’ urgent need at center and a rising NBA salary cap, the Lakers agreed...

After just nine years of existence, Beach Futbol Club is one of first 25 youth soccer clubs to be part of the Girls’ Development Academy, U.S. Soccer a ounced Thursday. Long Beach State head coach Mauricio Ingrassia welcomed the decision, and the national exposure it can bring to the club and its pl...

The NBA’s version of speed dating started at a frenetic pace. Executives from all 30 teams called prospective free agents begi ing at 9:01 pm. PT on Thursday both to express interest and set up future meetings. Unfortunately for the Lakers, they were stood up before any first dates. First, the Laker...

OMAHA, Neb. >> The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials haven’t been the most secure place for veterans this week. But on Thursday night, Anthony Ervin made it fun again to be a bit older than the sport’s standard. Tyler Clary, another Southe Califo ia mainstay, wasn’t too far behind at CenturyLink Center. ...

Players of the Year: Jacquelyn Kan, Cerritos, Sophomore Jacquelyn Kan helped lead the Dons to a second-place finish in the Empire League team standings (behind Cypress) before teaming with Janice Hui to score the league doubles title and the CIF SoCal Regional championship to complete an undefeated ...

BOSTON >> The Andrew Heaney stem cell experiment failed. The Angels a ounced on Thursday that Heaney will undergo Tommy John surgery because they had not seen sufficient results from the stem cell treatment after nearly two months. Heaney’s surgery will be performed Friday in Los Angeles by noted or...