| | Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS -- Guard Betty Lennox wasn't modest about her
intentions when the Minnesota Lynx selected her with the sixth pick
of the WNBA draft.
|  | | Betty Lennox (left) averaged 16.9 points per game for Minnesota this season. |
But she was bashful on Friday, when she overwhelmingly fulfilled
her draft-day pledge to win the 2000 WNBA Rookie of the Year award.
"I'm a little nervous," Lennox said. "I'm just extremely
excited."
Lennox received 59 of a possible 62 votes from a panel of
sportswriters and broadcasters. She was given a Tiffany-designed
trophy and $5,000.
Lynx teammate Marla Brumfield, Detroit's Edwina Brown and
Phoenix's Adrain Williams received one vote each.
Lennox, who was selected sixth in last summer's draft, averaged
16.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals. The 5-foot-8
guard from Louisiana Tech started 31 of 32 games for Minnesota,
which finished sixth in the Western Conference and missed the
playoffs.
Even though five players where drafted ahead of her, Lennox
promised she'd be the best rookie.
"Actually, when I set the goal, I thought it was somewhat out
of reach," Lennox acknowledged. "But as the season progressed, I
felt that it was very possible."
Coach Brian Agler said the Lynx got a steal because other teams
focused on post players, especially with Lennox skipping a
pre-draft combine in Chicago.
"Maybe that's where we got lucky," Agler said. "When all
those coaches and GMs are there watching players play for three
straight days together, my feeling is that she probably would have
stood out."
Washington's Chamique Holdsclaw won the award last year, and
Charlotte's Tracy Reid did in 1998.
WNBA player personnel director Renee Brown said the award serves
as a crystal ball of sorts.
"With players like Betty Lennox, the WNBA's future looks real
good and very bright," she said as she presented the trophy to
Lennox.
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