When it comes to the WNBA, there are several players that impacted the league. Players such as Swin Cash, Becky Hammon, Sheryl Swoopes and others have played in the WNBA and had successful careers.
When it comes to WNBA greats, there is another player that comes to mind. A player who recently accomplished two great things, even after years of retirement. That player is former Los Angeles Sparks center, Lisa Leslie.
Leslie was a special player who like Swoopes and others, made an impact on the WNBA. She was the seventh pick of the league’s Initial Allocation phase of the inaugural WNBA draft in 1997. The Los Angeles Sparks selected Leslie, in a draft pool that consisted of players such as Rebecca Lobo, Teresa Weatherspoon and more. In her rookie season, Leslie averaged 15.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.4 steals.
In her first few years, Leslie helped the Sparks make the playoffs in five-straight seasons. Then, the Sparks won their first championship in 2001. Leslie and the Sparks kept their success going by winning another championship the following year.
In those seasons, Leslie averaged 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds, and 16.9 points and 10.4 rebounds respectively. Her RPG in 2002 (10.4) was a career-high that went along with a career-high in blocks with 2.9. Leslie played so well during this period that she won the MVP award in 2001.
After winning her second championship, Leslie played with the Sparks for six more years. Her final season was in 2009 when she averaged 15.4 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Throughout her career, Leslie had several accomplishments. She was a three-time MVP, a two-time Finals MVP, an eight-time WNBA All-Star and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. She also made several All-WNBA teams and was named one of the WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time in 2011. Leslie also became a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member in 2015. Now, she is accomplishing a few more things post her playing career.
Earlier this summer, Leslie became a head coach in the Big3 League. The Big3 is a 3-on-3 basketball league founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz. Leslie joined the league as the head coach of the Triplets, one of the leagues newest teams. She became the second female head coach in the league, as Nancy Lieberman was the league’s first.
Leslie went on to become the Big3 Coach of the Year and led her team to a championship. Her and Lieberman have both won championships as the league recently finished its third season.
Shortly after winning the championship, there were reports that Leslie will receive a high honor. According to Arash Markazi of the Los Angeles Times, Lisa may receive a statue outside Staples Center. She would be the first female athlete to receive a statue outside of the legendary arena. She would join other greats such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neal, who have statues outside of Staples Center. Leslie had an excellent career with the Sparks, and a statue is another way to honor her and her career.
Lisa Leslie accomplished so much in her career. She is one of the greatest players to play in the WNBA and has the accolades to back it up. With her accomplishments even after retirement, she continues to add to her legacy.