Leslie signs new deal to remain with Sparks

Lisa Leslie, a three-time WNBA most valuable player and three-time Olympic gold medalist, has signed a multiyear contract to continue playing for the Sparks, the club announced Thursday.

Leslie, who will turn 35 in July, announced in December that she was pregnant and would sit out the 2007 season. A seven-time All-WNBA first-team selection and former USC All-American, she had not indicated whether she planned to return.

“I began my WNBA career in Los Angeles 10 years ago and I’m thrilled to continue to play here,” Leslie, who is signed through the 2009 season, said in a statement released by the Sparks. “There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”

The 6-foot-5 center is the WNBA’s all-time scoring leader, helped the Sparks win WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002 and was the league’s MVP in 2001, 2004 and 2006. In 10 WNBA seasons, she has averaged 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds.

-- Jerry Crowe

GOLF

O’Hair takes lead

at Byron Nelson

Sean O’Hair shot a season-best five-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Brett Wetterich and Anders Hansen after the first round of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship at Irving, Texas.

Wetterich’s 66 included an eagle three on the 554-yard 16th hole.

Stacy Prammanasudh shot a six-under 67 for a one-shot lead over Lorena Ochoa after the first round of the Corona Morelia Championship in Morelia, Mexico.

Michelle Wie, who vowed to try again this year after failing to qualify for the 2006 U.S. Open, wasn’t among the golfers to submit qualifying applications for this year’s tournament, according to the U.S. Golf Assn.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Settlement is reached

in Beilein buyout

John Beilein, who left West Virginia to become coach at Michigan, must pay his former employer $1.5 million -- $1 million less than the buyout clause in his contract -- in a negotiated deal.

Marquette guard Dominic James made himself available for the NBA draft, but will not hire an agent so he has the option to return to the team.

JURISPRUDENCE

Foley acquaintance is

guilty of felony assault

Lisa Maree Gaut, the woman who was with San Diego Chargers linebacker Steve Foley the night he was shot by an off-duty police officer, was found guilty of felony assault with a deadly weapon. Gaut was convicted of trying to run down officer Aaron Mansker with Foley’s car.

Stuard Baldonado, one of five Duquesne basketball players shot on campus last year, has sued the school, alleging it failed to provide adequate security at a dance.

TENNIS

USC’s Van’t Hof

advances at Ojai

USC junior Kaes Van’t Hof defeated California junior Ken Nakahara, 6-4, 6-3, and then rallied to defeat UCLA senior Philipp Gruendler, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, to advance to a quarterfinal match against Stanford sophomore Matt Bruch in the Pacific 10 Conference individual championships at the Ojai tournament.

-- Lauren Peterson

Rafael Nadal extended his winning streak on clay to 69 matches, defeating Thomas Johansson, 6-1, 6-4, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Open Seat Godo at Barcelona, Spain.

Dominik Hrbaty defeated Slimane Saoudi, 7-5, 7-6 (2), to advance to the quarterfinals of the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco.

Sorana Cirstea upset second-seeded Martina Muller, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, in the second round of the Budapest Grand Prix in Hungary.

MISCELLANY

Morrison is cleared

to fight tonight

Texas state officials issued a boxing license to former heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, clearing the way for him to fight tonight in Houston. Morrison is scheduled to face Dale Ortiz in a four-round bout.

UCLA scored 196.475 to place third in the evening session of the team preliminaries at the NCAA gymnastics championships in Salt Lake City. Anna Li was fourth in the all-around with a 39.5 in leading the Bruins into today’s six-team final.

The 60th Lexus Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race begins at noon today, when 450 boats in 24 classes will depart in one of a dozen starts outside the Newport Harbor jetty.

Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby-winning colt, will be remembered Sunday in a ceremony at Delaware Park, where the horse won his maiden race on Oct. 4, 2005.

Pachuca beat Chivas of Guadalajara, 7-6, on penalty kicks late Wednesday to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup in Pachuca, Mexico.

Defensive end Charles Grant agreed to a seven-year extension with the New Orleans Saints, who disappointed Grant by designating him a franchise player. He has played five seasons in New Orleans.