Leslie, Lisa (1972–)
Leslie, Lisa (1972–)
African-American basketball player and model. Born Lisa Deshaun Leslie, July 7, 1972, in Los Angeles, CA; daughter of Walter Leslie (semi-professional basketball player) and Christine Leslie-Espinoza (truck driver); attended University of Southern California, 1990–94.
Center and one of the most popular players in the world of sports, was named Pacific-10 Freshman of the Year (1990); won a team gold medal at World University Games (1991), Jones Cup (1992), and Goodwill Games (1994); won a team bronze medal at World championships (1994) and gold medal (2002); led University of Southern California in scoring and rebounding and the Pac-10 in blocked shots (1993–94); named All-Pac-10 all 4 years of college career, the only player in Pac-10 history to do so; played for Sicilgesso in Italy (1994–95); was a member of the undefeated US National team (1995–96); won a team gold medal at Atlanta Olympics, scoring 29 points in final game against Brazil (1996); won a team gold medal at Sydney Olympics (2000) and Athens Olympics (2004); was a founding member of Los Angeles Sparks (1997); was the 1st WNBA player to dunk (July 30, 2002) and the 1st to score 3,000 points (July 22, 2002). Won Dial Award (1989); named National College Player of the Year (1993).
See also Sara Corbett, Venus to the Hoop (Doubleday, 1997); and Women in World History.