Former LA Sparks player under investigation for alleged sexual assault

LOS ANGELES (AP) Former WNBA player Latasha Byears, who helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks to two championships, is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting a former teammate, it was reported.

Byears and three men who have no connection to the Sparks allegedly raped the victim at a party following a June 5 game against the Sacramento Monarchs at Staples Center, KCOP-TV reported Tuesday.

No one has been arrested, but the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said Wednesday there is an investigation involving several male and female basketball players. Sheriff's Deputy David Cervantes would only say a report was taken in the case.

The Sparks waived Byears on June 10, five days after the alleged incident. She did not play in a June 7 game against the Monarchs in Sacramento because she was dealing with a personal matter, team officials said at the time.

Sparks spokeswoman Kristal Shipp said Wednesday the team has been contacted by authorities and is cooperating.

``We are aware of the serious nature of the police investigation and we are cooperating in every way,'' she said in a statement. ``We don't know the facts so until the investigation and the judicial process, if there is one, are completed, it would not be appropriate for us to make any comment.''

Byears, 30, was traded to the Sparks in 2000 from Sacramento. She spent four years with the Monarchs but had troubles on and off the court.

She pleaded no contest to reckless driving in 2002 and was suspended for one game. Later that year she was suspended for two games after throwing a ball at Michelle Marciniak's face during a game against the Seattle Storm.

Byears, who is no longer playing in the WNBA, ranks eighth in all-time field goal percentage (.514) and is among the top 10 rebounders in league history. She averaged 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds this season.

Known as ``Tot,'' a nickname given by her grandmother, Byears played at DePaul University in Chicago where she was named first-team AP All-America in 1995-96 and second-team All-America in 1994-95.

In an article published in the July issue of GQ magazine, Byears referred to herself as the toughest player in the WNBA and said she wanted to open a restaurant or a nightclub when her playing days ended.

``I been in this league six years now. I came in through the back door,'' she told the magazine. ``But I'm leaving through the front, side and middle. Man, roll the red velvet out for me, 'cause I'm the boss.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)