USC/Sparks icon Lisa Leslie to be honored with statue outside Crypto.com Arena
The three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist remains the team’s leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots and a host of other categories. The statue will be unveiled on Sept. 20.
Sparks icon Lisa Leslie, here in June 2006, will be honored with a statue in Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena. It will be unveiled before a Sept. 20 game against Portland. (AP/Branimir Kvartuc)
AP — LOS ANGELES — The Sparks announced Thursday that they will honor Hall of Fame player Lisa Leslie with a statue outside of Crypto.com Arena.
Leslie became the second player in league history, joining Sue Bird, to be honored with a statue by her franchise. The three-time WNBA MVP and eight-time All-Star remains the Sparks’ leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots and a host of other categories.
“To be cemented in Los Angeles, the city that raised me, I couldn’t be more proud to be a role model forever!” Leslie said in a statement. “God has blessed me and I have truly given my all to this sport and our community. I am thankful to my coaches, teammates, incredible fans, and, most importantly, my family and friends. As the saying goes, ‘The wolf is only as strong as the pack,’ and I’ve been fortunate to have an amazing pack supporting me every step of the way.”
Leslie, who helped the Sparks win their first two WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002, played all 12 of her seasons with the franchise and was a 12-time All-WNBA selection, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Star Game MVP. She ranks No. 13 in league history in career points (6,263), No. 6 in rebounds (3,307) and No. 3 in blocked shots (822).
Leslie attended USC from 1990 to 1994. During her time with the Trojans, she became one of the program’s most decorated players, earning All-Pac-10 first-team honors all four years. She was the 1991 National Freshman of the Year, the 1994 Naismith National Player of the Year and a three-time All-American (’92, ’93, ’94). Set Pac-10 conference records for career points (2,414), rebounds (1,214), and blocked shots (321).
Leslie, who came to USC from Inglewood’s Morningside High, also won four gold medals with the U.S. Olympic team.
“I’ve known Lisa for nearly three decades and believe that she is beyond deserving of this incredible honor. She was the driving force behind bringing back-to-back championships to the Los Angeles Sparks franchise in 2000 and 2001,” Magic Johnson said. “Lisa’s hard work and commitment has made her one of the best to ever play the game. Lisa’s legacy isn’t just measured by championships and accolades, though; it’s defined by the doors she opened and the standard she set for generations to come.”
The first WNBA player to dunk in a game, Leslie’s No. 9 jersey was retired by the team in 2010. She will join Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky, Pat Riley, Oscar De La Hoya, Chick Hearn, Jerry West,Luc Robitaille, Bob Miller, Elgin Baylor, Dustin Brown and Gigi Bryant as sports figures with statues at the arena.
The ceremony to unveil the statue will take place on Sept. 20 prior to the Sparks’ game against Portland.
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“To be cemented in Los Angeles, the city that raised me, I couldn’t be more proud to be a role model forever!” Leslie said in a statement. “God has blessed me and I have truly given my all to this sport and our community. I am thankful to my coaches, teammates, incredible fans, and, most importantly, my family and friends. As the saying goes, ‘The wolf is only as strong as the pack,’ and I’ve been fortunate to have an amazing pack supporting me every step of the way.”
Leslie attended USC from 1990 to 1994. During her time with the Trojans, she became one of the program’s most decorated players, earning All-Pac-10 first-team honors all four years. She was the 1991 National Freshman of the Year, the 1994 Naismith National Player of the Year and a three-time All-American (’92, ’93, ’94). Set Pac-10 conference records for career points (2,414), rebounds (1,214), and blocked shots (321).
