Lisa Leslie Set to Receive Historic Statue From Los Angeles Sparks

USC Retires Lisa Leslie’s Jersey in 2006

Photo Credit: NCAA.com

By: Joshua Martin

WNBA icon Lisa Leslie is once again making headlines. This time for receiving one of the highest honors in professional sports. The Los Angeles Sparks announced this week that Leslie will receive a statue outside Crypto.com Arena later this year, cementing her legacy not only in women’s basketball but in Los Angeles sports history. 

The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for September 20th before the Sparks take on the Portland Fire and the moment feels bigger than basketball. Leslie becomes just the second WNBA player ever to receive a franchise statue, joining Sue Bird in an rare and exclusive club. 

“To be cemented in Los Angeles, the city that raised me, I couldn’t be more proud to be a role model forever! God has blessed me and I have truly given my all to this sport and our community. I am thankful to my coaches, teammates, incredible fans, and, most importantly, my family and friends. As the saying goes, ‘The wolf is only as strong as the pack,’ and I’ve been fortunate to have an amazing pack supporting me every step of the way.”

— Lisa Leslie via statement

For longtime fans of the game, the recognition is well deserved. Leslie helped build the WNBA into what it is today. During her legendary run with the Sparks, she collected three league MVP awards, two championships, eight All Star appearances and became the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game.

But what makes this moment resonate deeper is the cultural impact Leslie continues to have. In an era where women’s basketball is reaching new heights, pioneers like Leslie laid the foundation long before sold out arenas and viral highlights became common. Her influence can still be felt across the sport, from today’s stars to the next generation watching from the sidelines.

“Lisa’s legacy isn’t just measured by championships and accolades, though; it’s defined by the doors she opened and the standard she set for generations to come. More than an athlete, she is a pioneer, a cultural icon and a force who elevated women’s basketball to new heights. This statue celebrates her excellence, her leadership and the future she helped create, and it ensures her impact will forever be part of the fabric of this city.”

— Earvin “Magic” Johnson via statement

Leslie, who currently works for CBS Sports as a WNBA analyst and panelist, had her No. 9 retired by the Sparks in 2010 and she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 with career averages of 17.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.3 blocks.

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That One Time: Lisa Leslie Scored 101 Points in a High School Game

Lisa Leslie at Morningside High School

By: Baigen Seawell

Everyone remembers the 100-point game that the late great Wilt Chamberlain had. To this day, there’s a few people who believe that this may or may not be true, just because stat keeping wasn’t as thorough as they are in the present day. 

For the majority of us though, we agree that this happened and it nearly happened again with Kobe’s 81-point game in 2006. It definitely can happen with the nature of basketball ever changing and evolving into a perimeter style game. Within the past 20 years, we’ve seen shots begin to move outwards, and Steph Curry can arguably be the catalyst for this.

Needless to say, we’ve become enamored with how the game has morphed in regards to scoring.

But let’s talk about this stat-line for a second.  

31 years ago (Feb 7, 1990), Lisa Leslie scored 101 points in 16 minutes. 

101 points. 

In 16 minutes. 

The Morningside High School center took on South Torrance, where in 16 minutes, she tallied up 101 points. She shot 37 of 56 from the floor and 27 of 35 from the line. South Torrance held on throughout the half, but not for long as Leslie would score 49 points in the first quarter. 

Lisa Leslie at Morningside High School

That’s around six points a minute, and I’m doubtful that transition plays were the result of this since South Torrance had every girl on Leslie to prevent her from scoring. This didn’t do much to faze her since she scored another 52 points in the second quarter.

As if the first near 50 points wasn’t enough to call it quits!

What makes this story even more outrageous is the fact that this was not the highest scoring record at that time. That feat actually belonged to Cheryl Miller, who scored 105 points in 1982. Though it seemed as if Leslie was well on her way to break the record, this feat would not become attainable for her. Entering the second half, South Torrance decided to pack it up and leave. 

Leslie told the LA Times: “I was kind of heartbroken that I didn’t break the record,” Leslie said. “I asked the (South Torrance) coach before they left the court if they would let me score three more baskets, and then he asked his team, and they said ‘No.’ ”

Gil Ramirez, the South Torrance Coach, faced scrutiny for this gesture, even though their team was quite literally being embarrassed from the first tip. Some called it poor sportsmanship for Leslie’s high school coach to allow this to go on for so long, his response was he would let his players shine at least once a season, especially seniors. 

Miller’s rebuttal explained it best though, and maybe it was a bit past its time when she said it: 

“I know their (South Torrance) coach will holler about poor sportsmanship, but the game is to score points [...] It is a shame that she did not get a chance to break the record.”

Leslie was unable to break Miller’s record to her dismay. But it wouldn’t stand unbroken for long. 16 years later Epiphanny Prince from Manhattan, NY would envelope that record with 113 points.

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