IN BRIEF

HOCKEY

Wild star Gaborik ready to rejoin lineup

Marian Gaborik is set to return to the Minnesota Wild.

The star right wing said he's planning to play in tonight's home game against the Calgary Flames. Gaborik suffered an unspecified injury to his lower body and has missed the last 27 games since appearing on Oct. 14.

Coach Jacques Lemaire has left the decision to Gaborik, who skated on a line with James Sheppard and Stephane Veilleux during Tuesday's practice and said he felt good on his skates.

Also: Buffalo Sabres rookie forward Nathan Gerbe will miss about two weeks because of an upper body injury.

Coach Lindy Ruff declined to reveal the nature of the injury, but noted that Gerbe was ruled out after meeting with team doctors after he practiced Monday.

BOXING

Ex-IBF champ Guerrero wins case vs. promoter

Former featherweight champion Robert Guerrero is ready to start boxing again after winning a lengthy arbitration case in San Francisco against his former promoter.

Guerrero (22-1-1, 15 KOs), a two-time titlist, hasn't been in the ring since Feb. 29, when he knocked out Jason Litzau to retain his IBF title. Instead, Guerrero spent the past 10 months fighting for his freedom from a contract with promoter Dan Goossen.

After the California attorney general's office ruled in his favor, Guerrero said he hopes to be back in the ring by January, working toward a 130-pound title shot after relinquishing his crown in June.

MISCELLANEOUS

Robby Gordon will drive for Toyota in 2009

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Robby Gordon will switch to Toyota in 2009, his fourth manufacturer change in four years.

Gordon was with General Motors in 2006, switched to Ford the next year to receive greater support, then abruptly moved to Dodge at the start of this season in a technical alliance with Gillett Evernham Motorsports.

That partnership was dissolved late this season, freeing Gordon to align with Toyota.

Also: Kansas junior guard Mario Little will miss two to four weeks after breaking his left hand at practice.

Little averaged 15.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists while at Chipola (Fla.) College and was ranked the No. 1 junior college player in the country before going to Kansas.

Karima Christmas scored 10 of her career-high 14 points in the second half and chased down a key rebound that led No. 8 Duke past No. 3 Stanford 56-52 in Durham, N.C.

The United States will play its home World Cup qualifier against Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, for the third straight time, following victories in 2001 and 2005.

The Feb. 11 match will be the U.S. opener of the final round of World Cup qualifying in the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

Paul Ince's short career as Blackburn manager ended when he was fired after a run of 11 English Premier League matches without a win, putting the club in the relegation zone.

Although Ince started with three wins in his first six league games, the Rovers have lost six straight and are in 19th place.

The new Women's Professional Soccer League will open its first season when the Washington Freedom play the Los Angeles Sol on March 29 at Carson, Calif.

The U.S. has not had a major professional women's league since the Women's United Soccer Association folded in September 2003 after its third season.