Sports briefs for November 15, 2004

Monday, Nov. 15, 2004 | 9:21 a.m.

Wimbledon rematch for WTA Championship

Serena Williams pretended she couldn't remember playing Maria Sharapova in the Wimbledon final, amnesia being a convenient way of forgetting her one-sided loss.

"I don't know who it was," she said, half serious and half smiling. "I wasn't at Wimbledon this year."

Sharapova trounced Williams 6-1, 6-4 for her first Grand Slam title at 17, a victory that propelled Sharapova to worldwide stardom and turned her blonde sex appeal into a lucrative off-court industry.

Williams won't be able to pretend Monday night, when she plays Sharapova in the final of the season-ending WTA Championships. The winner will receive $1 million, and a car to donate to her favorite charity.

Williams won the tournament in 2001 and was second in 2002.

On Sunday in the semifinals, Williams outlasted Mauresmo 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, and Sharapova beat Anastasia Myskina 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 for the first time after losing to her countrywoman three other times this year.

Mauresmo's loss guaranteed Lindsay Davenport will retain the top spot when the year-end WTA rankings are released Tuesday.

Daly-Donofrio wins

Heather Daly-Donofrio held on to win the LPGA Tournametn of Championships at Mobile, Ala., for her second career title Sunday, closing with a 2-under 70 for a four-stroke victory and three-year LPGA Tour exemption.

Women find fame

Former Harlem Globetrotter Lynette Woodard and retired Auburn coach Joe Ciampi were among the six newest members of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame announced in Knoxille, Tenn. Also chose were former NAIA star Kelli Litsch, high school coach Edna Tarbutton, former All-American Dixie Woodall and Hunter Low, the founder of the Kodak All-American team.

D.C. United reigns

Alecko Eskandarian scored twice with four minutes of the first half to lift D.C. United to a 3-2 victory against the Kansas City Wizards in the MLS championhip match at Carson, Calif.