lisa leslie biography wikipedia

Lisa Leslie

Lisa Leslie was an All-Star basketball player, Olympic gold medalist and WNBA league MVP.

1972–Present

Quick Facts

Who is lisa leslie, early career, wbna career, life after pro basketball.

FULL NAME: Lisa Deshaun Leslie-Lockwood BORN: July 7, 1972 BIRTHPLACE: Gardena, California ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Cancer

In 2001, Lisa Leslie was the first WNBA player to win the regular season MVP, the All-Star Game MVP and the playoff MVP in the same season. In 2002, she was the WNBA all-time leading scorer and was named MVP of the WNBA Championship. Leslie was a member of the gold-winning U.S. Olympic teams in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. She retired from the WNBA in 2009.

Former professional basketball player Lisa Leslie was born July 7, 1972 in Gardena, California. Standing six feet tall in seventh grade, Leslie hated it when people would ask her if she played basketball. But after reluctantly picking up the sport in middle school, she was hooked. While at Morningside High School in Los Angeles, she led the team to two state championships. In college at the University of Southern California, she set several Pac-10 conference records for points and rebounds.

In her final year at University of Southern California, Leslie was named the 1994 National Player of the Year. She made her first trip to the Olympics in 1996 held in Atlanta, Georgia. There she helped the U.S. team take home the gold medal in women's basketball. That same year, Leslie also launched a modeling career.

Leslie landed a contract with the WNBA in 1997, becoming one of the new league's first players. She joined the Los Angeles Sparks and had an impressive career with the team. In 2001, she was the first WNBA player to win the regular season MVP, the All-Star Game MVP and the playoff MVP in the same season. Leslie also led the Los Angeles Sparks to two back-to-back WNBA Championships — in 2001 and 2002. In addition to her outstanding performance with the Sparks, Leslie returned to Olympic competition three more times. She helped the U.S. team win gold in 2000 and in 2004.

Leslie picked up two more WBNA MVP honors — in 2004 and 2006. She sat out of the 2007 WNBA season because she was pregnant with her first child, but she wasn't away from the courts for long. Leslie returned to the Sparks in 2008. She also earned her fourth and final gold medal in women's basketball that summer at the Olympics in Beijing, China. In 2009, she announced that she was retiring from professional basketball. Leslie scored more than 6,200 points during her twelve years with the WNBA. She also holds the distinction of being the first woman in the league to make a slam-dunk during an official game.

In 2009, Leslie added becoming an author to her already long list of accomplishments. She released her autobiography, Don't Let the Lipstick Fool You , before playing her final season with the Sparks. Since her retirement, Leslie has worked as a sports commentator and analyst for such channels as ABC, NBC and Fox Sports Net among others.

Leslie returned to her beloved Sparks team in 2011, but this time as an investor, not a player. She is now one of the team's owners, and has also decided to share her knowledge and skills with others through the Lisa Leslie Basketball & Leadership Academy.

Personal LifeLeslie is married to Michael Lockwood. The couple has two children, son Michael Joseph and daughter Lauren Jolie.

• 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.
• I'm strong, I'm tough, I still wear my eyeliner.

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Lisa Leslie

An early star of the WNBA and a four-time Olympic gold medalist, Lisa Leslie is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. The first player to dunk in the WNBA, Leslie continues to make an impact in the sports world as a coach, team owner, commentator, and role model.

Lisa Leslie was born on July 7, 1972 in Gardena, California and grew up in Compton. Her mother, Christine Leslie-Espinoza, worked as a mail carrier and truck driver. While her mother was on the road, Leslie lived with other family members and, from a young age, cared for her baby sister, Tiffany.

At 12 years old, Leslie already stood over six feet tall. Because of her height, people always assumed she'd play basketball, but she had no exposure to the sport before junior high school. When a classmate asked her to join the team, the shy Leslie decided to give it a try in hopes of making friends. On the first day of practice, the coach divided the players into right-handed and left-handed groups. The only left-handed player, Leslie did not like being on her own, so she vowed to learn to use her right hand for all basketball skills. That decision led her to become ambidextrous, a significant asset for a basketball player. Leslie’s cousin and uncle helped her train, teaching her the fundamentals and encouraging her to play a tough, physical style of basketball.

In eighth grade, Leslie joined a boys’ club team. Initially the boys refused to give her the ball, but after she intercepted a pass between two of her teammates and scored, they started shouting “give the ball to the girl!” She soon began playing in the Olympic Girls’ Development League, often competing against girls several years older. The OGDL exposed Leslie to college basketball coaches and she received more than 100 college recruiting letters before even starting high school.

Leslie went to Morningside High School and was named California’s “Freshman of the Year” after her first high school basketball season. In her sophomore year (1987-88), the team made it to the state championship game. Leslie played a great game, but she missed the final shot as time expired and Morningside lost by one point to Fremont High School. The crushing defeat made Leslie determined to lead her team to the championship the following year. She did just that when they defeated Fremont in a state championship rematch in 1989. USA Today and Parade magazine named Leslie to their first-team high school All-America squads that year.

At 16, Leslie made the U.S. Junior National Team and traveled abroad for the first time to play in the World Championship Tournament in Spain. The only high school player on the team, Leslie led the team in scoring and rebounding during the tournament. In her senior year, Leslie set a national record by scoring 101 points in the first half of a game, led her team to a second consecutive state championship, and won the Naismith Award, given to the nation’s top high school basketball player.

Leslie attended the University of Southern California (USC). During her collegiate career, she led the team to an 89-31 overall record and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. She was named the 1991 National Freshman of the Year and the 1994 Naismith College Player of the Year. Leslie also received All-American honors for 1992, 1993, and 1994. Leslie set Pac-10 conference records for scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots, and became the first player to make the first all-conference team in each of her four years. Leslie graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

At the time, there were no opportunities for women to play professional basketball in the U.S. So, like many other college stars, Leslie signed with a team in the European women’s professional league. She joined Sicilgesso, based in Alcamo, Italy, for the 1994-95 season. Leslie then made the 1996 Olympic team and helped lead the team to a gold medal. In the process, she set a record when she scored 35 points in one game.

After the Olympics, rather than return overseas, Leslie began modeling professionally. She worked with major fashion designers like Armani, Tommy Hilfiger, and Anne Klein.  When the WNBA was established in the summer of 1997, Leslie, along with Sheryl Swoopes and Rebecca Lobo, became the faces of the new league. Leslie anchored her hometown team, the Los Angeles Sparks.

Leslie played in the WNBA for twelve seasons, during which she led the Sparks to league championships in 2001 and 2002. She was a seven-time All-Star (and three-time All-Star Game MVP), three-time WNBA MVP, eight-time first team All-WNBA honoree, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Leslie made history when she became the first player in the WNBA to dunk on July 30, 2002.

Off the court, Leslie was recognized by the Big Sisters Guild of Los Angeles for her work with foster children, and earned her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. In 2005, Leslie married Michael Lockwood, a commercial pilot. They have two children, Lauren and Michael II.

Leslie continued bring home victories with Team USA during these years. In addition to World Championship titles in 1998 and 2002, the U.S. women’s basketball team won gold in the Olympics in 2000, 2004, and 2008, making Leslie a four-time Olympic gold medalist. In 2019, Leslie was selected for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame.

Leslie retired from the WNBA in 2009, but remains the Sparks’ leading scorer and rebounder. Since retiring, Leslie has published her autobiography ( Don’t Let the Lipstick Fool You ), served as a broadcast commentator, and become a part-owner of the Sparks. In 2013, she established the Lisa Leslie Basketball & Leadership Academy, an organization that provides basketball training and academic tutoring to Los Angeles youth. Leslie was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. Today, Leslie coaches the Triplets team in the men’s BIG3 league, where she and Nancy Lieberman are the only female head coaches of professional men’s basketball teams.

Burnett, Larry, Leslie, Lisa. Don't Let the Lipstick Fool You . United Kingdom: Kensington Books, 2009.

Caple, Jim. “Lisa Leslie: Achieving her basketball dream.” United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum. Accessed Jan. 26, 2021. https://usopm.org/lisa-leslie-achieving-her-basketball-dream/

“Lisa Leslie.” Team USA. Accessed Jan. 26, 2021. https://www.teamusa.org/usa-basketball/athletes/lisa-leslie

“Lisa Leslie: Class of 2015.” Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Accessed Jan. 26, 2021. https://www.wbhof.com/famers/lisa-leslie/

“Lisa Leslie: Coach.” BIG3. Accessed Jan. 26, 2021. https://big3.com/players/lisa-leslie/

Samuel, Naya. “Lisa Leslie Is Never Scared.” Sports Illustrated . Oct. 28, 2021. Accessed Jan. 26, 2021. https://www.si.com/wnba/2021/10/28/lisa-leslie-los-angeles-sparks-100-influential-black-women-in-sports

MLA – Brandman, Mariana. “Lisa Leslie.” National Women’s History Museum, 2022. Date accessed.

Chicago – Brandman, Mariana. “Lisa Leslie.” National Women’s History Museum. 2022. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/lisa-leslie

Image Credit:  "Lisa Leslie-Lockwood" by Sharon Graphics is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

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Lisa Leslie

Facts of Lisa Leslie

Career & Net worth

Relationship.

Lisa Deshaun Leslie, who is famous as Lisa Leslie, is the head coach for Triplets in the BIG3 professional basketball league. Besides, she is also a studio analyst for Orlando Magic broadcasts on Fox Sports Florida. Lisa is a former professional basketball player playing in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). 

The basketball head coach, Lisa, started her career in middle school, where she decided to play as right-hand dominant. During her high school career, she received hundreds of college recruiting letters. Likewise, Lisa attended the women's basketball powerhouse at the University of Southern California, where she spent four long years, i.e., from 1990 to 1994. The former basketball player started her professional career in 1996. However, she started playing in 1997 when the Los Angeles Sparks drafted Lisa as part of the Initial Allocation phase of the draft. While talking about her national career, she was the youngest player in the squad as Lisa was only 17 when she was listed in the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team. 

What Is Lisa's Current Profession? 

Apart from Lisa's basketball career, she also has a great fashion modelling journey, and Lisa is also an aspiring actress. Likewise, Lisa has been featured in many sports publications like Vogue  and  Newsweek.  So, since she retired from basketball, Lisa Leslie has also served as a sports commentator. 

Likewise, Leslie was an analyst for several sports networks, such as NBC, ABC, and Fox Sports Net. Furthermore, the former Center for L. A Sparks, Julia started working for Fox Sports Florida as a studio analyst on Orlando Magic broadcasts. Later Lisa was also appointed as Triplets' head coach in the BIG3. 

Lisa Leslie's Salary And Net Worth Explored 

Lisa Leslie is one of the most successful and talented basketball players who has been in the vocation since her early career. According to the latest update, her career earnings as of 2022 are $5 Million . Therefore, the current net worth of the former basketball player is $2.5 Million . 

Even after retirement, Lisa is still connected to basketball and is among the active personalities  with that fans want to stay connected. So, while playing for WNBA, her salary was    $91,000 . Lisa hasn't shared much about her present salary and earnings; however, she receives considerable money working as a studio analyst. 

Similarly, The former basketball player,  Nick Young , has a net worth estimated to be $ 25 million. Four-time Olympic gold medal winner Lisa lives a luxurious lifestyle, and she shares her daily routine on her social media handle with her fans. Apart from that, we can also see different styles and fashion tastes in Lisa's Instagram posts. 

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Lisa Is Married To Michael Lockwood

Three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player is married to Michael Lockwood . The couple married in 2005 in Maui County, Hawaii, United States. Lisa adores her partner, who has been together for over fifteen years. Similarly, the wedding ceremony was lavish and was performed in the presence of their close friends and relatives. 

Therefore, Lisa's fans are more fans of her married life than her professional career. The power couples were in a romantic relationship before tying the wedding knot, and they first met at the airport. 

The duo lived together with their family of four as they welcomed their first child Lauren Jolie Lockwood June 15, 2007 , in the United States. Again the married duo gave birth to their second child, a son, Michael Joseph Lockwood II, in 2010. 

Additionally, Lisa often shares quality time with her husband and kids. And she loves travelling and exploring new places with her loved ones and enjoying the vacation. 

Who Is Michael Lockwood? His Job And Professional Career 

Michael Lockwood is notably known as the husband of a basketball head coach and former basketball player, Lisa Leslie. Besides, Michael is also a retired American basketball player and pilot. Similarly, he is a successful businessman, and together with Lisa, he runs a real estate company, KW Realty Services . 

Unlike Lisa, Michael is private-natured and doesn't like to explore his personal life openly on web sources. Nevertheless, Leslie often shares pictures with Michael, and he is pretty active on Lisa's Instagram handle. 

How Old Is Lisa Leslie? Family Background 

Lisa was born on July 7, 1972 , in her birthplace, Compton, California, US. Leslie was born and raised by her parents, Christine Lauren Leslie and Walter Leslie . More, her birthname  is Lisa Deshaun Leslie. And  She has a brother named Elgin Leslie , and her two sisters are Tiffany Leslie and Dionne Leslie . 

Following her birth details, Leslie's zodiac sign is Cancer, and she holds American nationality. Furthermore, Leslie and her family follow Christianity to the core, and often, in interviews, she has expressed her faith in god. 

Leslie's mother, Christine, started her own business to take care of her kids, and she was four months pregnant then. Lisa was career-focused from an early age, and she started playing basketball at a young age. 

Short Details On Lisa's Physical Appearance

The fan's favourite, Lisa, is among the tall basketball players like Kia Vaughn . Further, Lisa is 6 feet 5 inches tall, also counted as 1.96 meters. Likewise, she weighs 77 kg or 170 lbs. The former basketball player promotes her healthy lifestyle on her social media handle, yet she follows a strict diet and healthy lifestyle. 

To keep more updated about the player, we can follow Lisa on Instagram under the username @lisaleslie. The LootMogul Ambassador has amassed more than 295k followers on the platform, and her account is verified. 

Interesting Facts About Leslie

• The Former basketball player is a four-time Olympic gold medal winner
• Lisa has also won three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player
• Lisa recorded history by becoming the first woman to dunk the ball in a WNBA game
• Lisa also played volleyball in high school. 
•  6 feet 5 inches tall, Lisa was the first WNBA player to score over 3,000 total career points. 
• During her playing career, Lisa was the youngest player on the USA team. 

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Lisa Leslie

• Born July 7 , 1972 · Gardena, California, USA
• Height 6′ 5″ (1.96 m)
• Lisa Leslie is an American former professional basketball player. She is the head coach for Triplets in the BIG3 professional basketball league, as well as a studio analyst for Orlando Magic broadcasts on Fox Sports Florida. Leslie played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). 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 her 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 was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. In 2015, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Leslie was also inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Tango Papa
• Spouse Michael Lockwood (November 5, 2005 - present) (2 children)
• Children Michael Joseph Lockwood Lauren Jolie
• Parents Walter Leslie Christine Lauren Leslie
• Relatives Dionne Leslie (Sibling) Elgin Leslie (Sibling) Tiffany White (Sibling) Bri Brister (Niece or Nephew) Marquis Jones (Niece or Nephew)
• Towering height
• Became the first WNBA player to dunk in a game on July 30, 2002.
• Member of the Olympic gold-medal-winning USA women's basketball teams in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008.
• Leslie and Lockwood, a pilot and former Air Force basketball player, wed in Maui in November 2005.
• Named MVP of the 2002 All Star Game.
• At age 34, gave birth to her first child, a daughter, Lauren Jolie was born June 15, 2007. Lauren made her debut over a week early arriving at 4:05 or 4:11 am, weighing in at 8 lbs. 11 oz and 20 inches long.

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Lisa LESLIE

In 2008, Lisa Leslie became only the second basketball player ever to win four Olympic gold medals, after Teresa Edwards. A 1.96 m-tall (6’5”) center, was the first player to dunk in the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association), the United States’ women’s pro basketball league founded in 1997. Playing for the LA Sparks her entire professional career, Leslie won the WNBA title in 2001 and 2002. She earned three MVP awards (2001, 2004 and 2006) and was selected into eight all-star teams. When she retired from the league in 2009, she was the all-time leader in points and rebounds.

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Biography of Lisa Leslie

Lisa Leslie, a professional basketball player, was born on July 7, 1972, in Gardena, California. She began her sports career at a young age, showing great potential and physical abilities. In high school, Lisa became the leader of the school's women's basketball team, leading them to a high level of play.

After graduating from high school, Lisa Leslie attended the University of Southern California, where she also played for the university's basketball team. Her exceptional skills quickly caught the attention of professional team owners, and she was offered a place in the "WNBA" league.

In 1996, Lisa Leslie achieved victory with her team at the Summer Olympics. The following year, she became a member of the Los Angeles Sparks team. One of her most memorable games was against the New York Liberty, where she demonstrated her daring and tenacious playing style. Her impressive dunk shots made her a popular figure among basketball fans.

Over the years, Lisa Leslie successfully climbed the ranks in the basketball world. She participated in several national championships and represented her country in numerous international competitions. She has won numerous awards and titles throughout her career.

In July 2008, a scandal erupted in Lisa Leslie's career during a game against the Detroit Shock. In response to what she believed to be a violation of the rules by the referee, Lisa impulsively struck the referee, leaving a visible bruise. As a result, she was suspended from competition for a year.

In addition to her athletic achievements, Lisa Leslie has also pursued opportunities in the fashion industry. She has appeared in various television shows and continues to make a name for herself off the court. Currently, Lisa Leslie plays for the Los Angeles Sparks in the "WNBA" league.

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