Briefs | Third World Cup title for American Vonn

Skiing

Vonn captures super-G title: Lindsey Vonn seems to make history every time she wins — and she's doing that often.

Vonn won the super-G season finale at the World Cup finals Thursday, becoming the first American woman to capture the championship title in the discipline.

"The confidence just keeps building and building in race after race," she said. "I trust myself, I trust my ability and that's what allow me to ski fast and aggressively."

Vonn earned her third crystal globe this season, tying the U.S. record set by Yakima's Phil Mahre in 1982.

The 24-year-old Vonn finished the Olympia course in 1 minute, 20.63 seconds. A day earlier, she clinched the World Cup overall title for the second straight year by winning downhill.

"I was hoping so much that I could win today and get the super-G globe, no American female has ever done that," Vonn said. "I'm so, so happy. What a week it's been so far."

Nadia Fanchini of Italy finished runner-up in 1:20.71 and was second in the super-G standings.

This was Vonn's ninth World Cup win this winter, setting another U.S. record for the most World Cup wins in one season — male or female.

NBA

Lakers clinch playoff berth: The Los Angeles Lakers are the West's first team in the playoffs. Kobe Bryant made sure of it.

Bryant scored the last of his 23 points on a three-pointer with 1:46 left, and the Lakers secured a postseason spot with a 102-95 victory over host San Antonio. The Lakers also wrapped up the Pacific Division in the final rematch this season of the 2008 Western Conference finals.

Tony Parker and Michael Finley led San Antonio with 25 points apiece.

No surgery for Williams: Atlanta forward Marvin Williams has decided not to have surgery on his ailing back, opting for a program of rest and treatment. The Bremerton native has missed two straight games with lower back pain.

NFL

Haynesworth indicted: Washington defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has been indicted on two misdemeanor traffic charges in Tennessee after an accident that seriously injured another driver.

Haynesworth, a former Tennessee Titan, was released after surrendering Wednesday. Maximum punishment is six months in jail and a $500 fine on a reckless driving charge and 30 days and a $50 fine for having expired registration.

The charges come from a Dec. 13 incident in which police say Haynesworth was trying to pass another driver, who crashed into a concrete median.

Owens gets his number: New Buffalo receiver Terrell Owens will be getting his familiar number 81, while second-year receiver James Hardy will be switching to No. 84.

Hardy, the team's second-round draft pick out of Indiana last year, wore No. 81 during his rookie season.

Owens has worn No. 81 throughout his NFL career, but wore No. 80 in college at Tennessee-Chattanooga.

WNBA

Sparks sign Thompson: Veteran Tina Thompson is joining the Los Angeles Sparks, 3 ½ months after Thompson's former team, the Houston Comets, were disbanded.

Thompson, who says she'll wear No. 32 in honor of former Los Angeles Lakers great Magic Johnson, led the Comets to four league championships, and has averaged 16.3 points and 6.7 rebounds during her 12-year pro career.

Tennis

Hewitt advances: Two-time champion Lleyton Hewitt beat Jan Hernych 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif.

College football

Mizzou to pay $2M to family: The University of Missouri will pay $2 million to the family of a former linebacker who died during a 2005 preseason workout. The agreement ends a lawsuit over the death of Aaron O'Neal, a 19-year-old redshirt freshman who collapsed on the Memorial Stadium field during a voluntary workout in July 2005.

Soccer

UEFA wins for Manchester City, Udinese, Marseille: Manchester City defeated Aalborg 2- 0 and Udinese scored two late goals to beat defending champion Zenit St. Petersburg by the same score as the round of 16 opened in European soccer's UEFA Cup.

Marseille, CSKA Moscow, Dynamo Kiev and Werder Bremen all won by one goal at home, with the remaining two games ending in draws. The return matches will be played March 18 and 19.

Iditarod

Buser retains lead: Four-time champion Martin Buser kept his Iditarod lead, and a Norwegian musher had to abandon the race after a sled accident that organizers said probably left him with internal injuries.

Buser was the first musher to reach Ophir, a trail checkpoint 687 miles from the finish in Nome. Buser arrived Wednesday afternoon and took his mandatory 24-hour layover in Ophir.

Norway's Bjornar Andersen left the race Thursday further back on the trail in Takotna after his injury the previous day. The extent of his injuries was not immediately known, race spokesman Chas St. George said.

Seattle Times news services