The unveiling of Lisa Leslie’s statue was the perfection celebration of everything that makes the Los Angles Sparks legend special

Sunday was a historic moment for the Los Angeles Sparks franchise. No, not because they defeated the Portland Fire 105-84 to earn the season series sweep over the expansion team. It was because they honored the franchise’s first superstar—Lisa Leslie—by…

By Edwin Garcia · Swish Appeal

Published: Monday, 21 September 2026 at 10:00 AM

Key Things to Know

The Los Angeles Sparks unveiled an 11-foot-tall statue of franchise legend Lisa Leslie in Star Plaza.
Leslie is the first player in Sparks franchise history to be honored with a statue at the arena.
The statue depicts Leslie's historic slam dunk, which was the first ever in WNBA history.

The Story in 60 Seconds

The Los Angeles Sparks honored franchise legend Lisa Leslie by unveiling an 11-foot-tall statue of her in Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena. The historic ceremony took place on a Sunday, coinciding with the Sparks' 105-84 victory over the Portland Fire. Leslie is the first player in Sparks franchise history to receive a statue at the arena.

The statue depicts Leslie's iconic slam dunk, which was the first in WNBA history, and features personal details like her lipstick, ponytail, and family names on her bracelets. Speakers at the two-hour ceremony included her husband Michael Lockwood, her sister Tiffany White, and her former USC teammate Karleen Thompson, who all praised her character and legacy.

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