Lisa Leslie Statue Outside of Crypto.com Arena Unveiled

A statue of Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member Lisa Leslie was unveiled Sunday outside of Crypto.com Arena, where she played the final eight seasons of her 12-season WNBA career, all with the Sparks.

The statue created by sculptors/artists Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany depicts Leslie dunking an orange-and-white WNBA basketball into a basket, a feat she accomplished in 2002, She became the league’s first player to so, five years after she missed a dunk attempt in the league’s first game.

Leslie thanked fans for their support and recalled how she would interact with them in her speech at halftime of the Sparks’ 105-84 victory over the Portland Fire Sunday.

“This game does not get to where we are today without all of you who have been here, sitting with us, riding with us,” Leslie said. “Every time I’ve been in this arena, I have never left this arena without signing autographs, taking pictures, and giving you guys my all. I left it out here on the floor because that’s what you deserve as fans.”

Leslie said she viewed every game as “a moment to change the mind of a man who was a hater. It was a chance to convince somebody who didn’t believe in women’s basketball. It was an opportunity to let a little girl believe that she could be me and my teammates out here because it’s all about love and hope.