Lisa Leslie
Lisa Leslie
Lisa Deshaun Leslieis an American former professional women's basketball player who played in the Women's National Basketball Association. She is a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medal winner. The number seven pick in the 1997 inaugural WNBA draft, she followed a superb career at the University of Southern California with eight WNBA All-Star selections and two WNBA championships over the course of eleven seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks, before retiring in 2009. Leslie, a 6'5" center,...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth7 July 1972
CityGardena, CA
CountryUnited States of America
As a role model for young girls and women, I just encourage them to continue their education and set their goals. And for me, mine are just really high and I just happen to be a professional basketball player but I really am a stickler for my goals and I wanted to get my Master's.
I played on an all-boy's team in the 8th grade, but they wouldn't throw me the ball even though I was on their team. One day I stole the ball from my own teammate and I made a basket. From that point on, everyone yelled "Give the ball to the girl!" I was the only girl on the whole league!
I encourage girls to play sports and play hard.
Dunking is something guys care more about than girls, There's something about jumping that seems to fascinate guys. Girls are more, like, 'As long as the ball goes in, who cares how you got it there?'
Most people compliment me on maintaining my femininity while I'm on the court. People like the fact that I model. My fans or little girls always say they want to play sports, but also want to be a model like me and I think that's great.
I played on an all-boys team in the 8th grade, but they wouldnt throw me the ball even though I was on their team. One day I stole the ball from my own teammate and I made a basket. From that point on, everyone yelled Give the ball to the girl! I was the only girl on the whole league!
Boys have a tendency to jump around a lot more than girls. Boys have that desire to want to dunk way more than girls do. It just never seemed like something we could truly fathom and do.
In boys, it's ingrained in their heads that to dunk is just the highlight of basketball, whereas for girls, our shooting technique, making baskets and free throws is taught more. It's such a sexist approach to the sport sometime. Men aren't encouraging their little girls to try to work on their hops. They're encouraging them to work on their jump shots and the fundamentals of the game.
We played slow tonight, ... You have give Houston credit because they came out and jumped on us. They shot the ball really well. I think we tried to get back in it, but in the playoffs we just have to play our style of basketball.
I would like to probably have my own business. I haven't decided in what areas - maybe a spa. I like a day spa, something like that. Always giving back to women. Or big shoes because there's a huge market there. People have big feet now. Start at maybe size 10 and end at 15 with some really nice, fashionable shoes.
I think this is an awesome opportunity for us as athletes to help and give back to the hurricane victims. Money is just what they need to get back on their feet right now, and that is why we are here.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. We're both role models who have made different choices. I don't know why we're even talking about it. It's a private matter. It has nothing to do with basketball.
I love cheesecake and whipped cream. Those are my two downfalls.
We will have to go with a big lineup to challenge them or go with a quick lineup to change the tempo of the game.