Basketball icon Lisa Leslie is set to receive one of the sport’s highest honors later this year when a statue in her likeness is unveiled outside of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The tribute recognizes Leslie’s extraordinary impact on the game and her lasting legacy with the Los Angeles Sparks, the WNBA, and women’s basketball as a whole. She will join an elite group of Lakers and Los Angeles sports legends immortalized outside the arena, cementing her place among the city’s all-time greats.
Leslie’s résumé speaks for itself. During her Hall of Fame career, she won two WNBA championships, earned two WNBA Finals MVP awards, captured three WNBA MVP honors, and was selected to the All-WNBA Team 12 times. She also claimed two WNBA Defensive Player of the Year awards and helped Team USA win eight international gold medals.
Beyond her on-court accomplishments, Leslie has continued to shape the game as a business leader and coach. She serves as a co-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks and guided Trilogy to a BIG3 championship, adding another milestone to her basketball career.
Long before she became a professional star, Leslie showcased her generational talent by scoring an astonishing 101 points in just 16 minutes during a high school game—a performance that remains one of the most remarkable scoring feats in basketball history.
The statue serves as recognition not only of Leslie’s championship success but also of her role in helping elevate women’s basketball and inspiring generations of athletes. Her influence extends far beyond the record books, making her one of the most influential figures the sport has ever produced.
When the statue is unveiled later this year, it will stand as a permanent reminder of a career that helped define excellence in women’s basketball and forever changed the game.
