In Brief

PRO BASKETBALL

Kings' Abdur-Rahim retires due to injury

Sacramento Kings forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim retired Monday because of a persistent right knee injury.

The 31-year-old Abdur-Rahim played 12 NBA seasons for four teams, beginning in 1996 when the Vancouver Grizzlies made him the third overall draft pick.

The 2002 All-Star averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game in his career, but the power forward reached the playoffs just once, with the Kings in 2006.

He appeared in just six games last season before getting season-ending surgery in December on his long-injured right knee.

Also: The Phoenix Suns signed Slovenian point guard Goran Dragic to a multiyear contract and said he will play for the team this season.

The Suns acquired the rights to the quick, sharpshooting 22-year-old left-hander in a draft-day trade with the San Antonio Spurs.

The Suns see the 6-foot-3-inch, 190-pound European as a backup and eventual replacement for 34-year-old Steve Nash.

The Washington Wizards picked up a one-year option for coach Eddie Jordan, keeping him under contract through the 2009-10 season.

Jordan is the Wizards' most successful coach since the 1980s, leading the team to four consecutive playoff appearances.

The Wizards also signed free-agent forwards DerMarr Johnson, Linton Johnson and Taj McCullough, bringing the team's training camp roster to 17.

The three will have "a chance to compete for a roster spot," team president Ernie Grunfeld said.

Sophia Young scored 27 points to lead the host San Antonio Silver Stars to an 86-81 overtime victory over the Sacramento Monarchs in the decisive Game 3 of the WNBA Western Conference semifinals.

San Antonio advanced to the conference finals for the second straight year, to face either Los Angeles or Seattle.

Rookie Essence Carson scored 15 points as the New York Liberty advanced to the Eastern Conference finals with a 66-62 win over the Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, Conn.

The Liberty won the best-of-3 series 2-1 and will face either Indiana or Detroit next.

COLLEGES

UNLV's Neagle lands weekly soccer honor

UNLV men's soccer player Lamar Neagle, who scored all three of the Rebels' goals in two games over the weekend, was named Mountain Pacific Sports Federation co-Player of the Week.

In Sunday's 2-1 win over St. Mary's, Neagle scored twice in just 29 seconds. He also scored in a 1-1 tie with San Francisco.

Also: A nephew of Minnesota basketball coach Tubby Smith was stabbed to death during a fight in Worcester, Mass., at an off-campus apartment.

Police say 19-year-old William L. Smith, a student at Becker College, was killed early Sunday.

Syracuse guard Eric Devendorf was given an additional year of athletic eligibility.

Devendorf, a key member of the team, missed 25 of the Orange's 35 games last season with a knee injury.

MOTOR SPORTS

Keselowski to drive in Sprint Cup for Hendrick

Hendrick Motorsports will enter Brad Keselowski in two Sprint Cup Series races this season to test him for NASCAR's top level.

Hendrick is allowed to enter a fifth car under a NASCAR rule that permits teams to use a rookie in up to seven races in a car that exceeds the current four-car cap.

The 24-year-old will try to qualify a fifth Hendrick entry, the No. 25 Chevrolet, at Lowe's Motor Speedway next month and at Texas Motor Speedway in November.

Keselowski is third in the Nationwide Series standings with 16 top-10 finishes, including two victories among 10 top-five efforts.