Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie is set to be memorialized with a statue outside of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles this September.
The two-time WNBA champion, three-time MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist will be honored with a ceremony on Sept. 20 in the Star Plaza outside of the home of the Sparks and Lakers.
She joins Lakers legends Kobe Bryant, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, coach Pat Riley, and broadcaster Chick Hearn, NHL stars Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Dustin Brown, and broadcaster Bob Miller, and boxer Oscar De La Hoya.
She is just the second WNBA player in league history to receive a statue from her respective organization.
“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 released Thursday. “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.”
Per ESPN, the multi-faceted star, “played all her 12 seasons with the Sparks and was a 12-time All-WNBA selection, eight-time All-Star, two-time Finals MVP, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Star MVP. She ranks No. 13 in league history in career points (6,263), No. 6 in rebounds (3,307) and No. 3 in blocks (822) and is the Sparks’ all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, field goals, free throws, minutes and games.”
Leslie retired in 2009 and had her #9 jersey retired the next year. She was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015.
“More than an athlete, she is a pioneer, a cultural icon and a force who elevated women’s basketball to new heights,” Magic Johnson commented. “This statue celebrates her excellence, her leadership and the future she helped create, and it ensures her impact will forever be part of the fabric of this city.”
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