Digest

BASKETBALL

WNBA's Sparks sign Team China star Yang

The Los Angeles Sparks have signed guard Yang Liwei, who will become the second Chinese player to suit up for the team.

Zheng Haixia was drafted by the Sparks in 1997 and played one season for them, leading the league in field-goal percentage.

Yang recently led China to a silver medal in the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup. She averaged 9.3 points, 3.9 assists and 1.6 rebounds in eight games.

In her most recent season with Inner Mongolia, Yang averaged 13.5 points, 5.2 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 19 games. She also shot a career-best 61 percent from the field.

Yang previously played 10 seasons in Guangdong, including two with current Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike in 2014 and 2019.

"She will bring us tremendous energy and enthusiasm on the court," Sparks coach Curt Miller said. "She is a terrific leader on the Chinese national team and we look forward to that leadership impacting our locker room."

SOCCER

Liverpool owner Henry denies club for sale

Liverpool owner John Henry has denied the English giant is up for sale despite seeking fresh investment in the club.

Henry's Fenway Sports Group (FSG) said in November it would "consider new shareholders if it was in the best interests of Liverpool as a club".

That sparked speculation that the 19-time English champion was on the market alongside rival Manchester United.

"I know there has been a lot of conversation and quotes about LFC(Liverpool Football Club), but I keep to the facts," Henry told the Boston Sports Journal in an interview published online Monday.

"We merely formalized an ongoing process. Will we be in England forever? No. Are we selling LFC? No. Are we talking with investors about LFC? Yes.

"Will something happen there? I believe so, but it won't be a sale. Have we sold anything in the past 20-plus years?"

TRACK AND FIELD

Bol breaks 40-year world indoor record

Femke Bol broke a 40-year-old world indoor record in the women's 400 meters on Sunday, covering the distance in 49.26 seconds.

Bol was running in front of a home crowd at the Dutch Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.

"When I crossed the line I knew that the record was mine, because of the noise that the crowd made," Bol said.

The previous record of 49.59 was set by Jarmila Kratochvilova on March 7, 1982.

The 22-year-old Bol won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in the 400m hurdles. She also ran a world indoor 500-meter best of 1:05.63 in Boston in her first race of this season.

On Sunday, she got off to a strong start at the Omnisport arena and beat Lieke Klaver, who finished second in 50.34.

OLYMPICS

Australia to spend $5b on 2032 venues

The Australian federal government and the Queensland state government said on Friday they would spend a combined A$7.1 billion ($4.9 billion) to build new venues and refurbish existing ones ahead of the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane.

The federal government will provide A$2.5 billion for the development of Brisbane Arena, a proposed 17,000-seat sports venue, while the Queensland government will fund the A$2.7 billion rebuild of the Gabba cricket ground.

Sixteen new or upgraded venues will receive A$1.87 billion in co-funding on a 50/50 basis between the two governments, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said during a joint media conference.

"This is nation-building. This event is a great event for Queensland but it's great for Australia as well," Albanese said.

Brisbane will become the third Australian city to host the Summer Olympics, after Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.

Agencies