WNBA Lennox leads Seattle, Donovan to title

Anne Donovan became the first female championship coach in WNBA history.
SEATTLE (AP) -- Betty Lennox and the Seattle Storm gave the city its first major professional sports title in 25 years -- and made Anne Donovan the first female championship coach in WNBA history.
Lennox scored 23 points to lead the Storm to a 74-60 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night in the decisive third game of the WNBA Finals.
Fans chanted, "Betty! Betty! when Lennox stepped to the free-throw line with 2:35 remaining. She made both shots to cap a 33-12 run that made it 71-56.
They changed the chant to "M-V-P! M-V-P!" when she returned to the line with 1:40 to go, and the fans got what they wanted moments later when WNBA commissioner Val Ackerman told the sellout crowd of 17,072 that Lennox had won the award.
"Coach Donovan knew what this team needed and she saw those criterias in me and she took a shot at it and gave me an opportunity," Lennox said.
Men previously dominated
The previous eight WNBA champions were coached by men -- Houston's Van Chancellor (1997-00), Los Angeles' Michael Cooper (2001-02) and Detroit's Bill Laimbeer (2003).
"I think you have to get to that next level before you can get complete respect," Donovan said. "Some of the credibility issues that people are reluctant to give female coaches, this will help."
The Storm, who tied the series with a 67-65 home victory Sunday night after losing the opener in Connecticut, pulled away in the second half behind Lennox to give Seattle its first major pro championship since the SuperSonics won the 1979 NBA title.
"I never played for a championship in front of my home crowd and that was huge for us," said Sue Bird, who won two national titles at the University of Connecticut. "We had a huge advantage and we worked all year for that."
The league finals were not new territory for Donovan, who took Charlotte to the championship series in 2001.
Hired in Seattle before the 2003 season as coach and director of player personnel, she immediately won the favor of stars Lauren Jackson and Bird, using her experience as a player to develop strong relationships.
On the court, Donovan pressed Jackson to become more of an inside force and not rely so much on the outside shot, and allowed Bird to grow as a team leader.
In her first year under Donovan, Jackson was the league MVP.
"Anne Donovan is one of the best coaches in the world. I can't thank her enough for what she's done for me," Jackson said. "I'm so proud to play under her."