Candace Parker capped off a banner year by winning the female athlete of the year award from The Associated Press on Tuesday.
She led the Tennessee women’s basketball team to a second consecutive national championship, was the first pick in the WNBA draft and won the league’s MVP and rookie of the year honors. She also helped the U.S. win a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
“Wow, that’s amazing,” Parker said. “It’s been a great year from so many standpoints. I haven’t really had a chance to sit back and let it all sink in.”
Parker, 22, received 36 votes from AP members, edging golfer Lorena Ochoa, who had won the award the previous two years. Rounding out the top five were gymnast Nastia Liukin, swimmer Dara Torres and gymnast Shawn Johnson.
Utah’s Okur, Millsap hurting
MILWAUKEE — The Utah Jazz played without center Mehmet Okur because of back spasms, then got a major scare when forward Paul Millsap injured his left knee early in the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Millsap was hurt after leaping to block a layup attempt by Michael Redd. X-rays on the knee were negative, and he returned in the second half to finish with 11 points and nine rebounds.
• New Orleans Hornets guards Peja Stojakovic (back) and Antonio Daniels (knee) are day to day because of injuries.
• Golden State Warriors guard Jamal Crawford is out indefinitely with a strained left groin.
Osgood won’t have to go on IR
DETROIT — Detroit Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood was able to practice hard during the morning skate and won’t have to go on the long- term injured reserve list.
Osgood, who injured his groin against Colorado on Dec. 15.
“It was just tight but I want it to be 100 percent and that way I know I wont hurt it again for the rest of the year,” Osgood said. “I think I’ll be at that point after Christmas. I’ll get some practices in, and then I’ll be ready to play.”
• The Columbus Blue Jackets activated defenseman Rostislav Klesla (ankle) off injured reserve.
Footnotes.
Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France seven consecutive years after overcoming testicular cancer, is expecting a baby with girlfriend Anna Hansen. Armstrong and his former wife Kristin had three children using in vitro fertilization with sperm he had banked before his chemotherapy. Hansen is expecting without the use of any artificial fertilization process.
• The PGA Tour has lost at least one tournament from its Fall Series — the Ginn sur Mer Classic — because of the economy, and the final part of its 2009 schedule released had another tournament — in Sea Island, Ga. — still up in the air.
• South Carolina’s athletic department is reporting 11 secondary NCAA violations in the past six months, including two from the program of new women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley.
• Daisuke Naito of Japan defeated compatriot Shingo Yamaguchi on a technical knockout in the 11th round to retain his World Boxing Council flyweight title in Tokyo.
The Associated Press
