BASKETBALL

WNBA rescinds fines for Black Lives Matter protests

The WNBA is withdrawing its fines for teams and players that showed support of citizens and police involved in recent shootings by wearing black warmup shirts before and during games.

WNBA President Lisa Borders said in a statement Saturday the league was rescinding penalties given to the Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury and their players for wearing the shirts – which was a uniform violation. The players started wearing them to show solidarity after shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana.

Each team was fined $5,000 and players were each given a $500 penalty because WNBA rules state that uniforms may not be altered in any way. The normal fine for uniform violations is $200.

“While we expect players to comply with league rules and uniform guidelines, we also understand their desire to use their platform to address important societal issues,” Borders said. “Given that the league will now be suspending play until Aug. 26 for the Olympics, we plan to use this time to work with our players and their union on ways for the players to make their views known to their fans and the public.”

TRACK AND FIELD

DIAMOND LEAGUE: Ben True of North Yarmouth placed sixth in the 5,000 meters in London with a time of 13:16.63. Great Britain’s Mo Farah was first at 12:59.29.

TENNIS

CITI OPEN: Ivo Karlovic saved all five break points he faced and ran his service-game record for the tournament to 43 for 43, beating fifth-seeded Steve Johnson 6-4, 6-4 to reach the final in Washington, D.C.

CROATIAN OPEN: Andrej Martin of Slovakia reached his first career ATP final, defeating Carlos Berlocq 7-6 (4), 6-4 in the last semis at Umag.

SWEDISH OPEN: Katerina Siniakova ousted defending champion Johanna Larsson 7-5, 6-1 in the semifinals in Bastad as the 20-year-old Czech chases her first WTA title.

AUTO RACING

NASCAR: Kyle Busch led all but one lap to win the Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis for the second straight year.

The 2015 Sprint Cup champion beat Kevin Harvick by 0.415 seconds in the race that went 63 laps instead of the 60 scheduled.

BEECH RIDGE: Dave Farrington Jr. of Jay edged Nick Cusack of Scarborough by .006 seconds to earn his second win of the season in the Pro Series division, in Scarborough.

Farrington, the series points leader, and Cusack were followed Reid Lanpher of Manchester, Steve Carrier of Saco and Robbie Harrison of Scarborough.

Ryan Villacci of Falmouth was victorious in the Sport Series feature, and Dave Cameron of Alfred won the Wildcat feature.

FOOTBALL

NFL: Baltimore Ravens standouts Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith and Elvis Dumervil are among six players who will start camp on the physically unable to perform list..

SOCCER

MLS: Je-Vaughn Watson scored on a header in the 85th minute and the host New England Revolution beat the Chicago Fire 1-0.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

UFC: Valentina Shevchenko stunned Holly Holm at UFC Chicago, unanimously outpointing the former UFC champion.

Fighting for the first time since losing the belt to Miesha Tate at UFC 196, Holm lost on all judges scorecards, 49-46.

– From staff and news services