Connecticut Sun guard Anete Jekabsone-Zogota is scheduled to undergo arthoscopic surgery on her right knee on Thursday and is expected to miss between 2-4 weeks. Here is the release from the team:


UNCASVILLE, Conn. (July 5, 2010) – The Connecticut Sun announced Monday that Anete Jekabsone-Zogota will undergo arthroscopic surgery on her right knee Thursday at Backus Hospital in Norwich.

The surgery to remove debris in the knee will be performed by Dr. Ammar Anbari, the Sun orthopedic physician. Jekabsone-Zogota is expected to be out for the next two to four weeks.

In her second year with the Sun, Jekabsone-Zogota is averaging 9.3 points with 23 made threes. She started the first 14 games of the season before experiencing discomfort in her right knee during the first half of a loss at New York on June 27th. She returned to Connecticut to have the knee examined, and has missed the last two games.

BIRD HONORED BY WNBA
Former UConn star Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm received the WNBA Cares Community Assist Award for the month of June for her charity work and specifically her efforts in the Jr. Storm Club.

Here's more on Bird's good work and a little more info on the Jr. Storm Club courtesy of the WNBA release

The Seattle Storm’s Jr. Storm Club is a free youth basketball program in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County that is open to Seattle-area boys and girls in grades K-6. Through clinics and special events, the Club provides aspiring youth basketball players with learning and development opportunities and the chance to spend time with Storm stars both on the court and off in an effort to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. Bird hosted a clinic in June for more than 150 young members and worked with the group on basketball fundamentals while emphasizing the importance of physical activity and maintaining a healthy diet. She also visited with Jr. Storm members during the month, spending one-on-one time with the youngsters and signing autographs.

“I love being a positive role model for boys and girls and showing them that with hard work and dedication, they can achieve anything in life,” Bird said. “It feels great to have my work in the community recognized and I really hope that this award encourages others to lend a helping hand where they can.”

The WNBA Cares Community Assist Award is presented monthly throughout the season to the player who best reflects the league’s passion for making a difference in the community. In recognition of Bird’s charitable efforts, the WNBA is donating $5,000 to the charity of her choice.



WNBA ALL-STARS NAMED
Crystal Langhorne of the Washington Mystics, Izaine Castro Marques and Sancho Lyttle, both from the Atlanta Dream, Penny Taylor of Phoenix, Rebekkah Brunson of Minnesota and Indiana's Katie Douglas were named to the squad representing the WNBA in Saturday's all-star game at Mohegan Sun Arena.