Briefs | WNBA: MVP Candace Parker expecting baby in spring

WNBA

Parker expecting baby in spring: Candace Parker is expecting her first child this spring, and the Los Angeles Sparks star will keep working out leading to the 2009 season.

Parker's husband is Shelden Williams of the Sacramento Kings.

"Shelden and I are very excited to be expanding our family," Parker said in a statement. "We feel blessed and look forward to becoming parents."

In 2008, Parker was the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie-of-the-year and MVP honors. She also won an Olympic gold medal and was The Associated Press female athlete of the year.

NHL

Sundin makes Canucks debut: Steve Bernier scored twice in 12 seconds and added one assist, leading Vancouver to a 4-2 victory over the host Edmonton Oilers in Mats Sundin's debut with the Canucks.

Alex Burrows and Pavol Demitra also scored for Vancouver, and Jason LaBarbera stopped 23 shots.

Sundin, playing in his first NHL game in nine months, was on the ice for about 14 minutes. The 37-year-old former captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs skated primarily between wingers Kyle Wellwood and Mason Raymond and was booed every time he touched the puck.

Ruutu suspended: Ottawa's Jarkko Ruutu was suspended two games for biting Buffalo Sabres enforcer Andrew Peters' gloved hand in a game Tuesday.

Maple Leafs acquire May from Ducks: The Maple leafs acquired hard-hitting forward Brad May from the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional 2010 sixth-round draft pick.

Sakic undergoes back surgery: Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic, already sidelined after a snowblower accident last month, underwent surgery for a herniated disk and will need about 10 weeks to recover.

Lidstrom an All-Star for 10th straight time: Nicklas Lidstrom is headed to the NHL All-Star Game for the 10th straight season but for the first time as captain of the Stanley Cup champion. The six-time Norris Trophy winner, as the league's best defenseman, and Detroit Red Wings teammate Pavel Datsyuk were among 15 players chosen to fill out the Western Conference roster for the midseason classic to be played Jan. 25 in Montreal.

Tennis

Blake tops Hewitt at Hopman Cup: James Blake beat Australian Lleyton Hewitt and the United States and Australia were tied 1-1 at the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia.

Casey Dellacqua beat American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-3, 6-4, and Blake beat Hewitt 6-2, 6-2 in a match in which Hewitt was bothered by an ear infection.

Slovakia advanced to the Hopman Cup final after Dominika Cibulkova and Dominik Hrbaty won their singles matches — Hrbaty after Germany's Nicolas Kiefer had to retire with a serious ankle injury.

U.S. women's team loses: Venus Williams and Coco Vandeweghe of the United States lost in straight sets to Team Europe at an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong. Top-ranked Jelena Jankovic of Serbia and Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal beat Team Americas 6-4, 7-5.

Nadal, Federer advance: Top-ranked Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Roger Federer won in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open in Doha.

Nadal beat Karol Beck of Slovakia 6-1, 6-2, and Federer defeated Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-3. Andy Roddick edged Arnaud Clement of France 6-3, 7-5.

Ivanovic struggles: Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic fought off two match points and rallied for a 6-7 (4-7), 7-5, 6-1 victory over Roberta Vinci of Italy to advance to the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International in Australia.

Davydenko to miss Australian Open: Fifth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko will miss the Australian Open because of a heel injury that bothered him last season.

Soccer

Derby upsets Man U: Manchester United was upset by Derby in the League Cup semifinals, losing 1-0 on a goal by Kris Commons.

Galaxy sign Griffin: The Los Angeles Galaxy signed veteran midfielder Leonard Griffin and released defender Eduardo Dominguez.

Mendes re-signs with Red Bulls: The New York Red Bulls re-signed veteran defender Carlos Mendes for the 2009 season.

Motor sports

Frenchman dies in Dakar Rally: A Frenchman became the latest fatality in the Dakar Rally when the body of motorcyclist Pascal Terry, missing since Sunday, was found in dense bush between Santa Rosa and Puerto Madryn in Argentina. Two motorcyclists died in the last rally, in 2007.

Nasser Al Attiyah reclaimed the race's overall lead and NASCAR star Robbie Gordon was third in a fifth stage won by Giniel De Villiers.

Marc Coma of Spain continued to lead the motorbike class, but his lead over Jonah Street of Ellensburg was slashed from 43 minutes to 27 because of a flat tire. Street won the stage in 6:41:06.

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