SPORTS
July 25, 2008 | Dan Arritt, Times Staff Writer
The WNBA suspended five Sparks players, including Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie, and five Detroit Shock players and assistant coach Rick Mahorn Thursday for their involvement in an on-court fight in Tuesday's game. As a result, the Sparks were without four starters, including Olympians Parker, Leslie and DeLisha Milton-Jones for their game against the Connecticut Sun on Thursday night at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Sparks lost, 87-61, to the Sun.
MAGAZINE
August 21, 2005 | Sandra Kobrin and Jason Levin, Sandra Kobrin and Jason Levin are Los Angeles-based freelance writers. Kobrin last wrote for the magazine about the cost of medical care for older inmates.
At 5-feet-11 and 203 pounds, Latasha Byears epitomized the power in power forward. She used her girth to set body-crunching picks that freed up Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie to score. On defense, she snatched rebounds and dogged the opponent's best shooter. If a player physically rubbed her or a teammate the wrong way, Byears exacted payback, committing hard fouls while helping the Sparks win back-to-back championships.
SPORTS
August 23, 2003 | Mike Terry, Times Staff Writer
Forward Rhonda Mapp of the Sparks has been dismissed from the WNBA and must serve a two-year suspension for violating the league's drug policy, according to a two-sentence statement issued Friday by the league's New York office. Mapp, 33, is the first player the league has ousted for a drug policy violation. She had rejoined the Sparks this season after sitting out last year because of a contract dispute. She appeared in 24 games, four of them starts, averaging 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds.
SPORTS
December 6, 2006 | Jerry Crowe, Times Staff Writer
An investor group led by Los Angeles lawyers Katherine Goodman and Carla Christofferson is buying the Sparks from Lakers owner Jerry Buss for $10 million, sources confirmed Tuesday night. The NBA Board of Governors was expected to vote today to approve the sale of the two-time WNBA champions, sources said. The Sparks have scheduled a Thursday news conference.
SPORTS
August 14, 2003 | Mike Terry, Times Staff Writer
Former Spark forward Latasha Byears, abruptly released by the team two months ago, is one of several people under investigation by L.A. County Sheriff's detectives in the alleged sexual assault of a former Spark player. According to sources familiar with the investigation, Byears, 30, and a man with no connection to the team allegedly took part in an attack on the player, who has not been identified.
SPORTS
August 29, 2005 | Mike Terry
Nikki Teasley, a 2004 All-Star point guard who had been on the WNBA's injured list since Aug. 1, was added to the Sparks' playoff roster Sunday. Teasley, averaging 7.4 points and 3.7 assists, had sat out with plantar faciitis in her right foot.