Saturday, 23 November 2024

Lisa Leslie

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Basketball
Statistics: 2 WNBA Championships (2001 & 2002)
3 WNBA MVPs (2001, 2004 & 2006)
2 WNBA Finals MVP (2001 & 2002)
2 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards (2004 & 2008)
8 All-WNBA First Team Selections (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 & 2008)
2 All-WNBA All-Defensive First Team Selections (2004 & 2008)
8 WNBA All-Star Games (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 & 2009)
2 WNBA Blocks Titles (2004 & 2008)
WNBA 10th Anniversary Team
WNBA 15th Anniversary Team
WNBA 20th Anniversary Team
WNBA 25th Anniversary Team
4 Olympic Gold Medals (1996, 2000, 2004 & 2008)
2 FIBA World Championship Gold Medals (1998 & 2002)
1 FIBA World Championship Bronze Medal (1984)
Naismith College Player of the Year (1994)
Member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Number retired by USC
Number retired by the Los Angeles Sparks
Playing college basketball at USC, Leslie was a three-time All-American, averaged over 20 Points per Game, and was the consensus MVP as a senior in 1994. Leslie had to take her talent overseas to continue as a professional, but David Stern had the foresight to create the WNBA, and in 1997, she became the face of her hometown Los Angeles Sparks.

Lisa Leslie's impact on the WNBA was profound. As an eight-time First Team All-WNBA player, she set a standard of excellence that few could match. Her skill, dedication, and leadership made her one of the league’s early superstars on an individual and team level. e MVPs (2001, 2004 & 2006), two Defensive Player of the Year trophies (2004 & 2008), and she led the Sparks to the ultimate goal, the WNBA Championship, in 2001 and 2002.

On the international stage, Lisa Leslie's dominance was unparalleled. She led the United States to four consecutive Gold Medals, a testament to her skill and leadership. Her scoring prowess was so formidable that she averaged over ten points in each tournament, while her defensive skills consistently ranked her among the world's best. Leslie's influence extended beyond the WNBA, as she also led Team U.S.A to Gold in the 1998 and 2002 World Championships.

We are proud to nominate Lisa Leslie for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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