Los Angeles Sparks Great Lisa Leslie Named to Basketball Hall-of-Fame
Long-time center of the L.A. Sparks Lisa Leslie was named to the Naismith Hall-of-Fame in her first year of eligibility. Leslie is chosen after an illustrious career in both professional and international play.
The center position in Los Angeles basketball has a long and storied history. The roster is dotted with names like Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal. No less important to that history is Leslie who spent her entire career with the Sparks and became a basketball legend in her own right.
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Unlike many of the stars fans are familiar with, Leslie is a born and raised in California who has brought accolades to the Golden State for her entire career. Although recruited heavily by colleges before she even began high school, Leslie went to college at the University of Southern California. During her time at USC she grew into the elite force that she would later become as a professional, averaging 20 points and appearing four times in the NCAA tournament.
In 1997 during the inaugural draft, Leslie was allocated close to home once again and was drafted to the Los Angeles Sparks. Leslie played until 2009 and set many records along the way. Leslie was the first WNBA player to ever dunk a basketball during a game. She became an eight-time All-Star, a three-time MVP, and a two-time WNBA champion. At the time she held the record for career points and still holds the all-time league record in rebounds and is second in career blocks. Through her dominant play she became a pioneer for women’s basketball and a star of the league. Her #9 jersey is one of the two numbers that has been retired by the Sparks and it hangs in the rafters of the Staples Center along with the other L.A. greats.
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Though her career is defined by representing California, she also left her mark internationally in representing the United States. She helped Team USA win four Olympic Gold Medals and stated that the Atlanta games in 1996 were the most special to her. Per the Washington Times, “Playing in front of 35,000 fans cheering ‘USA’ really, really always warms my heart. The first time they placed a gold medal around my neck. The other three were great as well, but I can’t say how much that first time with that team meant to me.” Leslie would go on to help the United States win gold in 2000, 2004, and 2008.
Today, Leslie is a married and a mother of two-children. She is a guest commentator for the ABC7 program Sports Zone where she continues discussing Los Angeles and national sports news.
On her election to the hall-of-fame, Leslie stated “I always thought you had to be much older to get in. I’m really honored, though, to be chosen among so many elite athletes and coaches. It’s nothing I really ever planned for or thought about.”