Player Profile: Betty Lennox
| DREAM
PLAYER PROFILE: BETTY LENNOX |
| Fans are accustomed to seeing
Betty Lennox hurtle full speed towards the basket, bouncing off
defenders and somehow finding her way to the hoop. They are used to
watching her spot up for three more points in transition or snare a
rebound from a player twice her size. They admire her fight and feel
her intensity, but it’s not often that they have the chance to see the
other side of the player they call “B-Money.” “When I’m at work, I’m all about work so I’m serious,” Lennox says. “I don’t think there’s an opportunity to where I need to put lipstick on and pose for the camera and start smiling. I’m out there gutting it out, playing hard and trying to get the job done. So you don’t see the opposite side of me, which is off the court where I’m just a comedian with everyone.” To understand Lennox’s mentality requires delving into her past. One of nine children, Lennox grew up in the small town of Hugo, Oklahoma. She picked up basketball because in a town of 5,000 people, there wasn’t much else to do. Lennox learned the meaning of responsibility early, helping out with family chores and earning money loading bales of hay at age 10 in order to help make ends meet. Those early lessons are engrained in Lennox even now and have shaped her approach to basketball and to life. The rough times made Lennox work harder and appreciate every opportunity she was given. Even today, Lennox says it is opportunity that motivates her—not just the chance to play professionally-- but to lead, teach, and use her fame to give others the opportunities that she never had. One way Lennox does so is through the Lennox Foundation 22, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for neglected and abused children. “There are a lot of kids out there who need love, who need that support, who need an opportunity to know that there’s more to life,” Lennox said. She plans to stay involved as a mentor once her playing days are over. In her ninth season in the league, Lennox is the most experienced player on the Dream roster and one of the team’s few veteran players. Drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2000, Lennox made an immediate splash, earning Rookie of the Year honors and becoming the first rookie in league history to be selected to an All-Star team. In 2004, Lennox was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2004 WNBA Finals and helped the Seattle Storm capture the WNBA championship. With all the accolades comes the pressure to lead a young Dream team in their inaugural season. It’s a challenge that Lennox does not shy away from. In years past, Lennox has been on successful teams with multiple veteran players assuming leadership roles. In Atlanta, Lennox has had to step out of her comfort zone to assume a more defined leadership position. “I think the key to being a leader is putting everyone else first and doing everything you can to meet their needs,” Lennox said. “You have to be patient and you have to have confidence in your teammates.” |
