LEAGUE NOTES

          THEY GOT GAME, AGAIN: FSN's Keith Olbermann reported on
     the overnight "Fox Sports News Primetime" that "after seven
     and a half hours of meetings" in N.Y. last night, an
     agreement on a new WNBA CBA "is nearly completed."  All that
     remains "unsolved are some minor licensing agreements"  From
     a source: "It looks like a deal is done" (FSN, 4/25).
          SOCCER: In N.Y., George Vecsey writes that the '99
     Women's World Cup "gained instant credibility" with the U.S.
     team's 2-1 loss to China yesterday -- their first home loss
     in 50 games -- because "it showed the U.S. is vulnerable"
     (N.Y. TIMES, 4/26)....Due to an "impasse" between former
     Fusion MF Carlos Valderrama and management, MLS Commissioner
     Doug Logan moved Valderrama to the Mutiny, a decision
     ESPN.com's Jamie Trecker said represented "a new low in the
     U.S. soccer business."  Trecker: "The league is so dependent
     upon a handful of players it is willing to go to ludicrous
     lengths to make them happy" (ESPN.com, 4/24).