Cleveland – Lindsey Harding was a member of the Phoenix Mercury for about 15 minutes.
Shortly after selecting Harding with the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft Wednesday, the Mercury traded the point guard to the Minnesota Lynx for veteran Tangela Smith.
“Shock, surprise all good feelings,” Harding said. “I knew there was a chance that could happen.”
Harding’s two misses from the foul line with 0.1 seconds remaining allowed Rutgers to upset top-seeded Duke 53-52 in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.
Moments after Harding was traded, San Antonio sent its No. 2 selection, Ohio State center Jessica Davenport, along with its first-round pick in 2008, to New York for former Colorado State guard Becky Hammon and a second-round pick in 2008.
Chicago picked guard Armintie Price of Mississippi at No. 3; Noelle Quinn of UCLA went fourth to Minnesota; and Texas’ Tiffany Jackson went fifth to New York.
WNBA
Cooper to return as Sparks coach
The Los Angeles Sparks fired coach Joe “Jellybean” Bryant and replaced him with former coach Michael Cooper, who led the team to WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002.
Cooper, who coached the Nuggets between stints by Jeff Bzdelik and George Karl, is coaching the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, a team he led to an NBA Developmental League title last year. Officials of the Albuquerque team said Cooper will remain a minority owner and will coach the Thunderbirds through the remainder of the regular season and in the playoffs if they qualify.
NBA
Rookie Aldridge out indefinitely
Portland Trail Blazers rookie LaMarcus Aldridge is out indefinitely after experiencing dizziness and a rapid heartbeat.
He played seven minutes in Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers before he was taken to the hospital. After he wore a heart monitor for 24 hours, the team asked for additional tests on Aldridge, initially diagnosed with dehydration.
The nature of the tests was not revealed.
“We are going to run more tests and get a more accurate diagnosis so we can treat it,” Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said. “That’s the biggest thing right now. We’re in a ruling-out process.”
Bulls center Ben Wallace missed Chicago’s road game against the Detroit Pistons after going to a hospital with inflammation in his sinus.
“He just had a fever and wasn’t feeling well,” coach Scott Skiles said. “If he says he’s not feeling well, he’s not feeling well. This is a guy that generally does zero complaining. You take notice when Ben says he’s not feeling well.”
The Memphis Grizzlies waived forward Scott Padgett after agreeing to buy out his contract. Padgett, acquired from the Houston Rockets for Jake Tsakalidis on Feb. 13, averaged 0.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 4.7 minutes in seven games with the Grizzlies.
FOOTNOTES
Richardson’s CBA contract not renewed
The Albany (N.Y.) Patroons didn’t renew Micheal Ray Richardson’s coaching contract after his suspension for alleged anti-gay and anti-Semitic remarks. The former NBA and Manual High School player was suspended for the team’s last two Continental Basketball Association playoff games March 28, a day after he told the Times Union of Albany that he had “big-time Jew lawyers” working for him. The coach yelled at hecklers during the first playoff game, using a profanity and gay slur.
D.C. United acquired forward Marc Burch from the Columbus Crew for a third-round pick in next year’s supplemental draft.
Greg Johnson converted a tricky quadruple combination in the 10th and final end to help the United States beat Germany 7-6 and move into playoff position at the world curling championships in Edmonton, Alberta.
Nobiz Like Showbiz is the morning-line favorite in Saturday’s $750,000 Wood Memorial over 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct in Ozone Park, N.Y.
Liquidity, the early 5-2 favorite, will start from the No. 5 post position in Saturday’s 10-horse Santa Anita Derby in Arcadia, Calif.
