Sparks guard Betty Lennox to undergo left knee surgery

The Sparks, already reeling from the news that star forward Candace Parker is out for the season with a dislocated left shoulder, announced Thursday that veteran guard Betty Lennox will undergo knee surgery early next week to repair a torn meniscus.

Lennox, who is averaging 4.9 points, 1.5 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 11.6 minutes a game, has been affected by the injury throughout the season and elected to have the surgery now, the team announced.

She is expected to be out four to six weeks.

At 3-9, the Sparks are seven games behind first place Seattle in the Western Conference, and are half a game back of last place, which is currently occupied by Tulsa. The Sparks play at Washington tonight.

--Baxter Holmes

Photo: Sparks guard Betty Lennox drives against Seattle's Svetlana Abrosimova in the second half of a WNBA game earlier this month. Credit: Elaine Thompson / Associated Press