Briefs | WNBA: Nicole Powell scores 32 points to spark Sacramento

WNBA

Powell leads Monarchs over Liberty: Nicole Powell scored a career-high 32 points and had nine rebounds to lead Sacramento to an 88-73 win over the host New York Liberty, snapping the Monarchs' six-game losing streak.

The Monarchs (4-14) won for the first time since July 7. Powell was 5 for 8 on three-pointers. Essence Carson scored a career-high 20 points for the Liberty (6-9).

Mystics turn back Sky: Crystal Langhorne had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Lindsey Harding scored 15 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, and the host Washington Mystics earned a 75-64 win over the Chicago Sky.

Matee Ajavon added 14 points as the Mystics (8-7) closed the first half of the season winning two of three and are in third place in the Eastern Conference. Jia Perkins scored 14 points to lead the Sky (8-10).

Young scores 24 points for Silver Stars: Sophia Young scored 22 of her 24 points in the first half, reviving San Antonio Silver Stars in an 84-65 victory over the visiting Indiana Fever.

The Silver Stars (7-8), who had lost three of their past four, also stepped up defensively, holding leading All-Star vote-getter Tamika Catchings scoreless on 0-for-9 shooting. Indiana (12-4) had won 12 of 13 coming in.

Tennis

McEnroe's team fined: John McEnroe's World TeamTennis club has been fined for what the league called "unprofessional conduct" by him and other players at a match last week.

During the men's doubles match between McEnroe's New York Sportimes and the Washington Kastles on July 16, a shot by Washington's Leander Paes hit New York's Robert Kendrick. McEnroe and Sportimes coach Chuck Adams went over to Paes' side of the court and yelled at him. Four points later, Kendrick hit Paes with a serve, prompting more screaming.

Davydenko wins, Soderling upset: Nicolas Almagro ended his two-match losing streak against Robin Soderling by beating the third-seeded French Open runner-up 7-5, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the German Open in Hamburg.

Second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko ended Jeremy Chardy's bid for a second title in two weeks by beating the Frenchman 6-3, 6-3.

Querrey moves on in Indianapolis: Sam Querrey beat fellow American Rajeev Ram 7-5, 6-3 in the second round of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships.

Cornet rallies to beat Mayr: Top-seeded Alize Cornet of France rallied to beat Patricia Mayr of Austria 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the second round of the Gastein Ladies in Bad Gastein, Austria.

NHL

Hossa to undergo surgery: The Chicago Blackhawks say recently signed right wing Marian Hossa will undergo surgery today on his right shoulder to repair a small tear in his rotator cuff.

The Blackhawks said Hossa will miss the first two months of the season. The Blackhawks knew about the injury when they signed the five-time All-Star to a 12-year, $62.8 million contract on July 1 and were hoping to avoid an operation.

Wild signs two: The Minnesota Wild has signed center Kyle Brodziak to a three-year deal to avoid arbitration. The Wild also signed defenseman Ryan Lannon to a one-year deal.

Carolina lands Ruutu for three years: The Carolina Hurricanes have locked up Tuomo Ruutu for three seasons. The Hurricanes said they avoided arbitration with the physical forward by signing him to a deal worth $11.4 million.

Boxing

Valuev to fight Haye for WBC belt in November: Tired of waiting for Vitali Klitschko, Nikolai Valuev will defend his WBA heavyweight title against David Haye in November.

The fight is likely to be in Germany on Nov. 7 with Haye, the brash former cruiserweight world champion now trying to make his name as a heavyweight, promising to be the first fighter to knock out the 7-foot Russian.

College baseball

NCAA committee wants composite-barrel bats tossed: The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee has proposed an indefinite moratorium on composite-barrel bats after anecdotal evidence and research conducted at the Division I national tournament indicated many of the bats didn't comply with NCAA standards.

College football

Illinois adds a year to Zook's contract: Illinois coach Ron Zook has received a one-year contract extension. He is under contract with Illinois through January 2014.

Horse racing

Jockey undergoes surgery: Jockey Rafael Bejarano has undergone surgery and is doing well in the hospital a day after he suffered serious facial injuries in a spill at Del Mar, Calif.

Diving

He Chong wins men's springboard gold: China's He Chong followed up his Olympic gold with a world championship in the 3-meter springboard in Rome, pulling off one of the most difficult dives on his final attempt to beat out American Troy Dumais (silver) and Canadian star Alexandre Despatie (bronze).

Auto racing

Youngest F1 driver set for debut: Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, 19, will become the youngest driver to race in Formula One this weekend and is drawing criticism from fellow drivers about his inexperience even before the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.

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