Lindsey Vonn is worried a badly bruised right shin will keep her out of the Vancouver Olympics, a startling announcement so close to the start of an event shaping up as a showcase for the U.S. skiing star.

Vonn revealed yesterday that she was injured in a slalom training run Feb. 2 during pre-Olympic practice in Austria. It was her first trip down the slopes of what was supposed to be three days of practice.

"I'm sitting here today questioning whether, you know, I'll be even able to ski," Vonn said at a news conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. "I have to play it by ear."

As a two-time reigning overall World Cup champion, the 25-year-old has been a favorite to win multiple medals.

Asked whether she could be forced to sit out altogether, Vonn replied: "Yeah, that's a possibility."

BASKETBALL

NO. 1 UCONN ROLLS TO 63RD WIN IN ROW

Tiffany Hayes and Tina Charles scored 19 points apiece to help No. 1 Connecticut roll to its 63rd straight victory with a 95-62 win over host DePaul last night in Chicago.

The Huskies (24-0, 11-0 Big East) are seven wins short of the school and NCAA record of 70 straight victories set from 2001-03. DePaul fell to 16-9 and 5-6.

GOLF

WIE GETS BACKING OF KIA MOTORS

Kia Motors America is getting involved with the LPGA Tour, agreeing to an endorsement deal with Hawai'i's Michelle Wie and a title sponsorship for a new tournament at La Costa Resort.

Considered among the most popular female players, the Punahou alum and Stanford student will be the official golf ambassador and spokesperson for Kia Motors. Terms of the deal were not announced.

The Korea-based automaker will be title sponsor of the Kia Classic, which will be held March 25 to 28 at La Costa Resort north of San Diego.

HOCKEY

CANADIENS STOP STREAKING CAPITALS

Tomas Plekanec scored his second goal of the game in overtime and the host Montreal Canadiens ended Washington's team-record winning streak at 14 games with a 6-5 victory last night.

The Capitals hadn't lost in nearly a month and fell three wins short of tying the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins' NHL-record streak of 17 games.

Washington scored three goals in the third period to rally from a 5-2 deficit.

SAILING

SEAS TOO ROUGH FOR AMERICA'S CUP

Race 1 of the America's Cup in Valencia, Spain, was postponed again yesterday, this time because of big waves on the Mediterranean Sea.

The big multihulls, USA and Alinghi 5, didn't even leave the docks.

Race organizers will try again tomorrow to get in the first race of the nautical grudge match between American challenger BMW Oracle Racing and two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland.