The Los Angeles Sparks are set to honor one of the greatest players in WNBA history with a permanent tribute at Crypto.com Arena. The franchise announced Wednesday that Lisa Leslie will be immortalized with a statue outside the venue, cementing her legacy as a true icon of Los Angeles sports.
The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 20, just before the Sparks host the Portland Fire. It will be a moment of celebration for fans who watched Leslie redefine women’s basketball during her legendary career.
“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 in a statement released by the Sparks. “God has blessed me and I have truly given my all to this sport and our community. I am thankful to my coaches, teammates, incredible fans, and, most importantly, my family and friends.”
Leslie becomes just the second player in WNBA history to receive a statue from her franchise, and the first connected to the Sparks organization. Her monument will stand in the arena’s iconic Star Plaza, joining statues of sports legends like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky, and Chick Hearn. It’s a fitting location for a player who helped put the Sparks on the map.
The statue will be created by renowned sculptors Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany, whose work has become synonymous with some of the most recognizable sports monuments in the country. Their artistry will ensure Leslie’s likeness captures the grace, power, and determination she brought to the court every night.
Magic Johnson, a Lakers legend and longtime supporter of the Sparks, praised the decision. “I’ve known Lisa for nearly three decades and believe that she is beyond deserving of this incredible honor,” Johnson said. “She was the driving force behind bringing back-to-back championships to the Los Angeles Sparks franchise in 2000 and 2001, and Lisa’s hard work and commitment has made her one of the best to ever play the game.”
Johnson added that Leslie’s impact transcended basketball. “More than an athlete, she is a pioneer, a cultural icon and a force who elevated women’s basketball to new heights,” he said. “This statue celebrates her excellence, her leadership and the future she helped create, and it ensures her impact will forever be part of the fabric of this city.”
Leslie, a three-time WNBA MVP and four-time Olympic gold medalist, spent her entire 12-year WNBA career with the Sparks after joining the franchise during the league’s inaugural 1997 season. She led the Sparks to consecutive WNBA championships in 2000 and 2001, cementing her place as one of the most dominant players the game has ever seen. For Sparks fans and basketball enthusiasts alike, this statue is a long-overdue tribute to a true trailblazer.