Lisa Leslie, the absolute legend, just got her own statue outside Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, September 20, and get this: she’s the **first woman ever** to have a permanent tribute like that in front of the venue! Imagine being the 15th person overall honored, joining icons like Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson. It’s huge for the WNBA, for women’s sports, and honestly, for anyone who knows what it takes to be truly great.
Fearless and Among Legends
This isn’t just any statue; it’s a statement. Leslie spent her entire 13-season WNBA career with the Los Angeles Sparks, stacking up an insane resume: three-time league MVP, two WNBA championships, two Finals MVPs, and four Olympic gold medals with Team USA. Talk about a winner! Her first reaction to seeing her immortalized self? “She’s cute,” Leslie said, then added, “I was so worried I didn’t want to look like a linebacker up here. … I wanted to make sure this statue was a perfect blend of fearlessness and the competitor that I was.” You know what? They nailed it. She’s standing right across from her “little baby brother Kobe,” as she put it, and by Magic. “I have the opportunity to be amongst legends I respect,” Leslie told the crowd, “The people that poured into my life.” Magic Johnson himself was impressed, saying, “The history-making is what I’m really impressed with.”
A Trailblazer’s Unmatched Legacy
We’re talking about a player who redefined the game. Leslie was an eight-time All-Star, but even crazier, she was the first WNBA player to **dunk in a regular-season game**. Think about that! In 2001, she pulled off the unprecedented feat of earning all three MVP honors in one year: All-Star Game MVP, regular-season MVP, and Finals MVP. Her career numbers speak volumes: 17.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across 363 games. She made the All-WNBA first team *eight times*. And the loyalty? She kept it Southern California through and through, from Morningside High to USC before dominating the pros. Her former Sparks coach Michael Cooper summed it up perfectly: “It’s about time,” he told Nitecast Media, “She’s the greatest WNBA player to have played the game.” Can’t argue with that.
Where Seattle Storm Legends Fit In
This kind of honor always makes you think about other WNBA greats, and obviously, our own Seattle Storm legends come to mind. Remember A’ja Wilson accepting her 2024 WNBA MVP award before a playoff game against *our* Storm? That stings a little, but it also shows the level of talent in the league. And then there’s Breanna Stewart. Our Storm forward was named MVP in 2018, dropping 22 points and 8 rebounds per game that regular season. She then led the Storm to a championship and snatched the Finals MVP award herself. Leslie’s statue is a reminder that the WNBA has always been full of incredible players, pushing the game forward, and we’re damn lucky to have seen some of the best right here in the Emerald City. It makes you wonder who’s next for statue-level greatness, and you can bet our Storm will keep putting out contenders.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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