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Edwin Garcia: Lisa Leslie statue unveiling. She is the first Sparks player to have a statue outside Star Plaza.
Lisa Leslie statue unveiling. She is the first Sparks player to have a statue outside Star Plaza.
— Edwin Garcia (@ecreates88.bsky.social) 2026-09-20T21:07:58.763Z
Los Angeles Sparks: “Every opportunity I had was a moment to change the mind of a man who was a hater. It was a chance to convince somebody who didn’t believe in women’s basketball.” @Lisa Leslie with a powerful speech in her halftime ceremony.
The WNBA’s biggest problem is the gulf between how good it feels to be a WNBA fan and how toxic the league seems from the outside looking in. The environment inside a WNBA arena is palpably life-affirming. The fans are more friendly than those of other sports. The players are more accessible. On Sunday, I went to the Liberty-Sparks game on the 30th anniversary of their first meeting, the inaugural game of the WNBA. I felt the gravitas and gratitude of Lisa Leslie, who played in that inaugural clash. I listened to DeLisha Milton-Jones dish insights about the future of women’s basketball. I heard the crowd return Teresa Weatherspoon’s love of the game back to her. I watched Sue Wicks, the first WNBA player to come out as queer, have her moment (stylishly, I might add) as fans lined up to take selfies with her. I felt the presence of the basketball gods setting the stage for Nneka Ogwumike—the bridge between the WNBA’s past and its future—to hit a game-winning 3 for the franchise she once won a title with.
Kendra Andrews: The Sparks announce they will honor Lisa Leslie with a statue outside Crypto.com arena. It will be unveiled on Sept. 20. “To be cemented in Los Angeles, the city that raised me, I couldn’t be more proud to be a role model forever,” Lesli said in a statement.
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NBA Courtside: Lisa Leslie tells Lakers fans they need to appreciate LeBron James: “I’m a L.A. girl and LeBron filled a huge void for us in L.A. We lost the great Kobe Bryant and to have LeBron come into L.A. and perform the way he has at the level that he has for this amount of time. We have just been so critical of this man who has been nothing but perfection for the Purple and Gold” (Via @FirstTake )
Lisa Leslie, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, and Kendrick Perkins, a 2008 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and current ESPN commentator, were announced as members of the basketball executive board for Wellington Sports Academy on Feb. 19 via social media. The executive board will also include brothers Markieff and Marcus Morris, who each played more than 13 NBA seasons. Wellington Sports Academy announced the Morris twins would serve as directors of basketball operations on March 5.
The Los Angeles Sparks will retire Candace Parker's No. 3 jersey on June 29, the team announced Thursday. She becomes the third player to have her jersey retired by the franchise, joining Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie, whose No. 9 jersey was retired in 2010, and former player and general manager Penny Toler, whose No. 11 jersey was retired in 2006. "To see my jersey hanging in the rafters amongst other legends is truly an honor. This moment is not just about me -- it's about my family, my teammates, and the incredible support from the LA Sparks organization and fans," Parker said in a statement. "I'm grateful to my parents, who believed in me every step of the way, to my brothers who still are my heroes and to my wife and kids, who inspire me every day. "
Lisa Leslie: Well let me start to congradulate @KDTrey5 as he gets ready to break one of my Olympic records! The Slim Reaper!! One of my all time favorites!
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During the game between Team USA and Brazil for the Olympic Games quarterfinals, Kevin Durant became the all-time leading scorer in USA Basketball’s Olympic history, passing Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie. “Records are meant to be broken,” Durant said. He finished with 11 points as USA won 122 – 87. “So it’s going to come along.”
Gerald Bourguet: Devin Booker on Kevin Durant passing Lisa Leslie on Team USA Basketball's all-time Olympic scoring list: "That's Captain America status...now we have to get him his 4th gold."