Lisa Leslie is about to receive an honor that only a select few in women's basketball have ever known: her very own statue. The Los Angeles Sparks announced that a statue of the legendary center will be unveiled on September 20 outside Crypto.com Arena, just before the team's game against the Portland Fire.

If you're a fan of the game, you already know the name. At 6-foot-5, Leslie dominated the paint like few others. Her résumé reads like a basketball hall of fame checklist: she ranks sixth all-time in WNBA rebounding, third in blocks, and first in career defensive rating. She's one of just four players to win at least three MVP awards, and she earned Defensive Player of the Year honors twice. Add two championships and two Finals MVP trophies to that list, and you start to see why this statue is so fitting.

But Leslie's impact goes far beyond the numbers. She spent her entire professional career with the Sparks, becoming the face of the franchise and a symbol of Los Angeles basketball. "To be cemented in Los Angeles, the city that raised me, I couldn't be more proud to be a role model forever," Leslie said. "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."

Before she was a WNBA icon, Leslie was a force at USC, where she was a four-time All-Pac-10 selection, a two-time All-American, and the consensus National Player of the Year as a senior. She then helped lead the U.S. women's national team to gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, averaging 19.5 points per game. Three more Olympic gold medals followed in 2000, 2004, and 2008.

When the WNBA launched in 1997, Leslie was there from day one, and she quickly became one of the league's most recognizable stars. She was a 12-time All-WNBA selection, an eight-time All-Star, and led the league in rebounding three times and blocks twice. She finished in the top four of MVP voting nine times. And in 2002, she made history by becoming the first player to dunk in a WNBA game—a moment that still gives fans chills.

Leslie's legacy is already cemented in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and the FIBA Hall of Fame. Now, with a statue that will stand tall outside her home arena, she'll inspire a new generation of players and fans who dream of making their own mark on the game.