Basketball Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie was honored by the Los Angeles Sparks with an 11-foot bronze statue in Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena, according to an announcement and reporting from the Associated Press and the WNBA. Unveiled on Sunday, September 20, the monument cements her legacy as a franchise pioneer and makes her just the second player in WNBA history to receive a statue from her team, joining Sue Bird.
The Unveiling Ceremony and Statue Design
The ceremony brought together prominent basketball figures, including Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Candace Parker, and Michael Cooper, to celebrate the three-time WNBA MVP. According to the Associated Press, the sculpture features a 4 1/2-foot base and depicts Leslie’s signature dunk—the first in WNBA history. Sculpted by Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany, the artwork captures specific details requested by the player, including earrings, a ponytail, and her family’s names inscribed on her bracelets.
https://x.com/NBA/status/2101818933959446654
“I am beyond happy with how beautiful The First Lady looks because they listened to me,” Leslie said, according to the Associated Press. “She has her lipstick on, she has on earrings, she has my family’s names on my bracelets… It’s gorgeous, and I just love that she has her ponytail.”
Franchise Career and Historic Impact
Leslie spent her entire 12-year career with the Los Angeles Sparks from 1997 to 2009, leading the organization to consecutive WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002. According to franchise data, she remains the Sparks’ all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocks, field goals, free throws, and minutes played. Earvin “Magic” Johnson noted during the lead-up to the event that Leslie served as the driving force behind the franchise’s championship era and opened doors for future generations of athletes.
“More than an athlete, she is a pioneer, a cultural icon and a force who elevated women’s basketball to new heights,” Johnson said, according to the Los Angeles Sparks organization.
Star Plaza Context
Leslie’s monument becomes the 16th statue installed in Star Plaza at Crypto.com Arena. She joins a roster of Los Angeles sports icons that includes Wayne Gretzky, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Oscar De La Hoya, Chick Hearn, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Luc Robitaille, Shaquille O’Neal, Bob Miller, Elgin Baylor, Dustin Brown, Kobe Bryant, Gigi Bryant, and Pat Riley. The Sparks retired her No. 9 jersey in 2010.
https://x.com/NBA/status/2101829723261132840
Keep reading