As Indiana Fever GM Amber Cox walked through the Crypto.com Arena and admired the statues of various LA legends on Wednesday, she saw her wish to fill the “void” with a WNBA legend come true the very next day.

The Los Angeles Sparks announced that they will memorialize Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie with a statue outside the arena. And they will honor her with a ceremony on September 20 in Star Plaza outside the home of the Sparks and Lakers.

In an X post on May 14, the Fever GM highlighted how this was just on her bingo card in her recent trip to LA. "I was just walking around the LA arena before the game yesterday thinking there was a void without a statue for Lisa," she said.

"She deserves to be recognized amongst all the other great LA sports legends. Amazing news!"

Leslie is only the second WNBA player in history to receive a statue from her respective organization. She follows the Seattle Storm's Sue Bird, who received her statue last August outside the Climate Pledge Arena.

Leslie won two WNBA titles and three MVP honors in her tenure at Los Angeles. Moreover, she is also a four-time Olympic Gold medalist with Team USA.

In her 12 seasons with the Sparks, she cemented herself as the all-time leader for the organisation in nearly everything, including points (6,263), rebounds (3,307), and blocks (822).

Additionally, Leslie also became the first WNBA player to dunk during a game in 2002.

In a statement released by the Sparks, Leslie appreciated the honour. She was thankful to LA for giving her the chance that she turned to gold.

"To be cemented in Los Angeles, the city that raised me, I couldn't be more proud to be a role model forever! God has blessed me, and I have truly given my all to this sport and our community."

With this feat, Leslie joins an incredible group of players who have their statues outside the Crypto.com Arena. Her statue will be there alongside legends like Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Wayne Gretzky, and Gigi Bryant.

And one of these legends had a special message for the 53-year-old following her inclusion in the group.

Magic Johnson Praises Lisa Leslie's Illustrious Career after Latest Announcement

Five-time NBA champion and part-owner of the Sparks franchise, Magic Johnson, was highly enthusiastic about Leslie's inclusion in such an exclusive crop of LA legends. He credited her for setting a standard that all players can look up to.

"More than an athlete, she is a pioneer, a cultural icon and a force who elevated women's basketball to new heights," he said in a statement.

"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."

The SoCal icon became one of the faces of the WNBA following the inaugural season in 1997. From there, her success helped legitimize a once looked-down-upon women's professional basketball.

Leslie now puts her cultural icon status to good use by acting as a role model for future generations. She inspires young girls to pick up a basketball in the hopes that they'll reach the WNBA.

Where do you rank Lisa Leslie amongst the best WNBA players of all time?

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Koushik Biswas