Parker leaves game after injuring right shoulder

AP Photo

U.S. forward Candace Parker touches her arm before shooting a basket after she was fouled during the basketball game between the U.S. and Latvia at the Women Diamond Ball Basketball tournament, a warm up for the Olympics, in Haining, China, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2008. The U.S. beat Latvia 84-74.

Candace Parker and the U.S. women’s basketball team got a scare when the former University of Tennessee star injured her right shoulder during a tuneup Sunday for the Olympics.

Parker was injured right before the end of the first half against Latvia at the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament in Haining, China. She didn’t play in the second half.

Parker wears a sleeve on her left shoulder after she dislocate it during the NCAA regional final last April.

“We could have played her, but there was no reason to risk it in the second half,” said U.S. coach Anne Donovan said about Parker.

The U.S. won 84-74.

Parker scored eight points on 3-of-3 shooting and made both of her foul shots in nine minutes off the bench.

Sylvia Fowles scored eight of her 13 points during a late fourth-quarter run for the U.S.

Former UT guard Tamika Catchings did not score, attempting three shots in 22 minutes off the bench. She had three assists and four steals.

Former UT guard Kara Lawson played just eight minutes and missed both of her shots.

Unlike past U.S. teams, this group has not had much playing time together due to injuries, overseas commitments, and the WNBA season. They were only able to start training for the first time together last Monday and are still working on developing chemistry on the court.

At times the U.S. players looked to be in total harmony, scoring at will and containing Latvia. At other times, the Americans struggled, turning the ball over and missing defensive assignments that led to easy baskets.

“I think we came out and for the most part in the first half our energy was good up and down the court,” said Catchings. “In the second half, we didn’t start off as strong as we should have. Overall, this was our first contest having the whole group together, and from a coaching staff and the players standpoint, we’ll get better. We’ve come this far, and we’ll continue to get better.”

Up next for the U.S. is a matchup with Becky Hammon and her Russian teammates tonight.