Top 20 Players | #11 – Betty Lennox
Julian Andrews
June 11, 2018
Betty Lennox was a warrior. A scrappy, 5-8 guard who played the game with the type of energy and aggressiveness that makes a great teammate, and a feared opponent.
The Lynx made Lennox the sixth pick in the WNBA draft in 2000. Lennox, who was born in Oklahoma City, played basketball at several community college programs before transferring to Louisiana Tech University where she was the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year.
Lennox’s rookie season was a huge success. She averaged 16.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Her effort was rewarded with the 2000 WNBA Rookie of the Year award and an All-Star selection.
Throughout her career, Lennox was known as a tough, sometimes unpredictable personality. She never backed down from a challenge and was once suspended for leaving the bench during an altercation. Unsurprisingly, Minnesota fans loved her. Lennox had her teammates’ backs at all times, and her never-back-down attitude was a valuable asset to the Lynx on the court.
Lennox’s work ethic might have saved her career. In 2001, she suffered a bad hip injury that many feared would prevent her from playing basketball again. But Lennox was steadfast in rehabbing the injury and returned to have a 13-year career in the league.
However, Lennox’s time with Minnesota was relatively short-lived. In 2002, she was traded to the Miami Sol. Lennox might not have been with the Lynx long, but those who watched her play won’t soon forget it. In a franchise that would come to boast many stars, she was one of the first.