Los Angeles Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon, who was the WNBA’s first openly transgender and nonbinary player as well as an All-Star in 2017, retired Friday after 12 seasons.

Clarendon had not played since Aug. 15.

The 33-year-old guard signed with the Sparks in February 2023 after playing for Indiana, Atlanta, Connecticut, New York and Minnesota. Clarendon averaged eight points, 2.5 rebounds and three assists while starting 36 of 45 games for Los Angeles.

Last season, Clarendon scored a career-high 30 points against the New York Liberty and reached the career 2,000-point mark.

Clarendon publicly shared that she was nonbinary and transgender after the 2020 season. She advocated for social and racial justice and LGBTQIA+ policies around the league. Clarendon was elected first vice president of the players association in 2016 and she helped negotiate the WNBA’s 2020 collective bargaining agreement that included higher salaries, improved travel accommodations and more support for players with children.

GOLF

Thitikul goes on a late birdie run in LPGA

Lydia Ko set an early target and Jeeno Thitikul zoomed right past her Friday afternoon with three birdies over her last four holes for another 6-under 66 and a one-shot lead over Ko in the Kroger Queen City Championship.

Ko played bogey-free with an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole for a 66. Thitikul played in the afternoon, made birdie on all the par 5s at the TPC River’s Bend and finished strong.

Journeyman ties record at Wentworth

Matthew Baldwin is setting an unexpectedly hot pace at the BMW PGA Championship after shooting 6-under 66 to establish a two-stroke lead after the second round. Baldwin is an English journeyman ranked No. 363.

He built on his overnight one-shot lead after a first-round 65 by making seven birdies to go along with a dropped shot at No. 11 for his only bogey so far this week.

Iron Heads advance in LIV finals

Scott Vincent made a hole-in-one that sparked a rally for the lowly Iron Heads, and Jinichiro Kozuma finished it off with two clutch putts to eliminate the Smash team of Brooks Koepka and advance to the semifinals of the LIV Golf Team Championship.

Koepka did his part with a 6-and-5 victory over Kevin Na, but Danny Lee got off to a hot start and beat Talor Gooch. It came down to the foursomes match.

BASEBALL

Indians beat Saints despite two homer game

Despite two standout Saints performances at CHS Field on Friday, the Indians caught up and passed them with a strong ninth inning that gave Indianapolis the win, 8-6.

Chris Williams had a two-homer night, in the seventh and ninth, bringing his season total to 17.

Marco Raya had his Triple-A debut Friday, pitching five shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out four.

Justin Topa, rehabbing for the Twins, relieved Raya for an inning, and allowed three runs on one hit, walking one and striking out one. Kody Funderburk, also rehabbing, pitched 1.2 innings and allowed two. Ryan Jensen (4-5) allowed the Indians their final three runs.

— Staff report.

BRIEFLY

College lacrosse >> A dozen Tufts University men’s lacrosse players have been diagnosed with a rare muscle injury after participating in a voluntary, supervised 45-minute workout that the team conducted

MLB >> Two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager expects to be ready for the start of spring training with the Texas Rangers after the shortstop’s second hernia surgery in less than eight months.

NBA >> All-Star center Joel Embiid now has until the end of the decade to try to win his first NBA championship with the Philadelphia 76ers, having agreed to a $193 million extension with a player option for the 2028-29 season.

NHL >> The Utah Hockey Club signed forward Dylan Guenther to an eight-year extension worth $57.14 million, making him the player signed for the longest time in the NHL.

TENNIS >> World No. 1 and defending champion Iga Swiatek has withdrawn from next week’s China Open in Beijing, citing personal reasons.

TENNIS >> American pair Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton have edged Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in doubles to tie the Laver Cup after the first day in Berlin.

— From news services