Basketball history is being made as Lisa Leslie prepares to receive one of the biggest honors of her career. The former WNBA star will become the first professional female athlete to be immortalized with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, marking another groundbreaking moment in a career already filled with firsts.
The statue ceremony is set for September 20 at Star Plaza in Los Angeles. For many fans of women’s basketball, the honor feels long overdue. However, it also sends a bigger message about legacy, representation, and the growing recognition of Black women who changed the face of sports.
Lisa Leslie Makes History With Crypto Arena Statue
Leslie’s statue will place her alongside sports legends such as Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, this honor carries special meaning because she will be the first professional female athlete ever to receive a statue outside the arena.
Leslie shared her emotions after the announcement, saying, “To be cemented in Los Angeles, the city that raised me, I couldn’t be more proud to be a role model forever.” Her words captured the deep connection she has always had with the city that shaped her basketball journey.
She also thanked the people who helped her reach this moment, including her coaches, teammates, family, friends, and loyal fans. For Leslie, this statue is not just about personal success. It is also about the community that stood beside her throughout her career.
Lisa Leslie Built a Legendary Career in Los Angeles
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Leslie built her basketball legacy in the same city that is now honoring her. She starred at Morningside High School, continued her rise at the University of Southern California, and later spent all 12 seasons of her professional career with the Los Angeles Sparks.
During her time with the Sparks, Leslie helped lead the franchise to back to back WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002. She was named Finals MVP both times, proving her ability to shine on the biggest stage.
Her career achievements are equally impressive. Leslie won three league MVP awards, earned eight All Star selections, and remains one of the most dominant players in franchise history. She still ranks among the Sparks’ all time leaders in points, rebounds, blocks, and games played.
Lisa Leslie Changed Women’s Basketball Forever
Leslie’s influence went beyond championships and awards. She became the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game, a moment that helped change how many people viewed women’s basketball.
That historic play became one of the defining images of her career. More importantly, it showed young girls around the world that women’s basketball could be powerful, exciting, and fearless.
After retiring in 2009, Leslie’s impact continued. Her No. 9 jersey was retired by the Sparks in 2010, and she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. Even years after leaving the court, her influence remains impossible to ignore.
A Statue That Honors More Than Basketball
This statue is not only about trophies or records. It is about the doors Leslie opened for future generations, especially Black women in sports.
Magic Johnson praised Leslie’s legacy, saying her impact goes far beyond championships. He described her as a pioneer, a cultural icon, and a leader who helped take women’s basketball to new heights.
Only Sue Bird has received a similar arena statue among WNBA players. Now, Leslie joins that exclusive group while making history in Los Angeles with a first of her own.
For every young girl who dreams of making it in sports, Lisa Leslie’s statue will stand as proof that greatness leaves a mark that can never be erased.
