SEATTLE — League MVP Lauren Jackson scored 26 points, Swin Cash added 19 and the Seattle Storm moved one victory away from its second WNBA title with an 87-84 win over the Atlanta Dream in Game 2 of the Finals on Tuesday night.
Iziane Castro Marques kept Atlanta close with 21 points before fouling out in the final minute. The best-of-five series resumes Thursday night in Atlanta.
Bobcats waive Dampier
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a move that helps their bottom line and creates needed financial flexibility but is hard for fans to get excited about, the Charlotte Bobcats waived center Erick Dampier to get below the dreaded luxury tax after being unable to pull off a trade.
Once the 35-year-old Dampier clears waivers, he will be free to sign with any team.
Waiving Dampier clears $13 million and leaves the Bobcats about $5 million shy of the tax.
Dampier has career averages of 7.8 points and 7.4 rebounds.
Coyotes sign forward Belanger
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Phoenix Coyotes signed forward Eric Belanger to a one-year contract.
Belanger started last season with the Minnesota Wild and was traded to the Washington Capitals, finishing with a career-high 41 points, including 15 goals.
• Left wing Bobby Ryan agreed to a five-year, $25.5 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks, keeping the high-scoring American forward with the club through 2014-15.
• The testy relationship between the Edmonton Oilers and Sheldon Souray has gotten worse as the star defenseman has been told to stay away from training camp, which opens Friday.
“We’ve been trying to move the player for some time, obviously,” general manager Steve Tambellini said. “Sheldon has expressed strong interest over a long period of time that it’s best for him to move, and we’re going to try and help him with that. I couldn’t get that done prior to this camp. I hope to get it done during camp, but it’s best for the Oilers for him not to be at camp right now.”
Jockey paralyzed in fall
ALBANY, Calif. — Michael Martinez, a 24-year-old jockey, has been paralyzed from the waist down following a fall during a race at Golden Gate Fields.
Track physician David Seftel said Martinez remained in critical but stable condition at an Oakland hospital. Martinez’s spinal cord was severed by three shattered vertebrae Sunday when the horse he was riding, Fair ‘n Warmer, stumbled and fell on top of the jockey.
Footnotes.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said Antonio Valencia could be ruled out for the rest of the Champions League season after suffering a serious ankle injury in a 0-0 draw with Glasgow.
• Thomas Koehler, a former senior East German sports official, acknowledged widespread state-sponsored doping during the 1970s in a new book titled “Two Sides of the Medal.” East Germany’s doping program has been widely known for years, but Koehler’s admission is the first by a top official.
The Associated Press
