History of Lisa Leslie in Timeline

Lisa Leslie is a celebrated former professional basketball player, notable for her achievements in the WNBA. She made history as the first player to dunk in a WNBA game in 2002. After retiring from playing, Leslie transitioned into coaching, leading the Triplets in the BIG3 league. She has also served as a studio analyst for Orlando Magic broadcasts. Leslie is considered one of the WNBA's all-time greats, evidenced by her ranking on ESPN.com's list of the WNBA's greatest players.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

July 7, 1972: Lisa Leslie's Birth

On July 7, 1972, Lisa Deshaun Leslie was born. She is an American former professional basketball player.

Others born on this day/year

1986: Enrollment at Morningside High School

In 1986, Lisa Leslie continued her education by enrolling at Morningside High School in Inglewood, California, making an immediate impact on the basketball program and joining the volleyball team and track and field.

1987: Previous Jones Cup Win

The 1992 Jones Cup win was the first since 1987.

July 1989: Junior World Championship

In July 1989, Lisa Leslie, at 17, participated in the second Junior World Championship in Bilbao, Spain, as the youngest player on the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team, averaging 13.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

1989: California State Championship

In 1989, Lisa Leslie, as a sophomore, led her high school team to the California state championship.

1990: Attends USC

In 1990, Lisa Leslie began attending the University of Southern California.

1990: High School Scoring Record

In 1990, Lisa Leslie tied the national record for points scored by a high school basketball player with Cheryl Miller, scoring 101 points in the first half of a game, leading her team to a state championship.

1991: World University Games Gold Medal

In 1991, Lisa Leslie competed at the World University Games in Sheffield, England, averaging 13.0 points per game and helping the USA team win the gold medal.

1991: All-Pac-10 Recognition and National Freshman of the Year

In 1991, Lisa Leslie was honored with All-Pac-10 recognition and became the first player in Pac-10 history to earn first team all four years and earn the Pac-10 Rookie of the Year award and was also honored as the national freshman of the year.

1992: Jones Cup Gold Medal

In 1992, Lisa Leslie competed with USA Basketball as a member of the Jones Cup Team that won the Gold in Taipei.

1992: All-American Honors

In 1992, Lisa Leslie earned All-American Honors.

1992: Youngest Player at Olympic Trials

In 1992, at age 20, Lisa Leslie was the youngest player to participate at the USA Olympic Trials.

1993: All-American Honors

In 1993, Lisa Leslie earned All-American Honors.

1994: Graduation from USC

In 1994, Lisa Leslie graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in communications.

1994: National Player of the Year Awards

In 1994, Lisa Leslie won multiple national player of the year awards including the Naismith College Player of the Year award, the USBWA Women's National Player of the Year award, the Honda Sports Award for basketball, and the WBCA Player of the Year award.

1996: Olympic Gold Medal and Scoring Record

In 1996, Lisa Leslie won a gold medal with the United States national women's basketball team and scored 35 points against Japan in the Olympic semifinals, setting an American Olympic women's scoring record.

1996: Olympic Gold Medal

In 1996, Lisa Leslie won an Olympic gold medal playing for USA Basketball in international competition.

1996: WNBA Incorporation

In 1996, the WNBA was incorporated.

June 21, 1997: WNBA Debut and First Double-Double

On June 21, 1997, Lisa Leslie made her WNBA debut in a game against the New York Liberty, recording 16 points and 14 rebounds, achieving the first double-double in WNBA history.

1997: Joins Los Angeles Sparks

In 1997, Lisa Leslie began playing in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks, being the number-seven pick in the inaugural WNBA draft.

1998: FIBA World Championship

In 1998, Lisa Leslie won a FIBA World Championship playing for USA Basketball in international competition.

2000: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2000, Lisa Leslie won an Olympic gold medal playing for USA Basketball in international competition.

2000: Rivalry with Lauren Jackson

In 2000, at the Olympics, Lisa Leslie's rivalry with Lauren Jackson began when the Australian star ripped out Leslie's hair extensions during a game.

2001: Sportswoman of the Year

In 2001, Lisa Leslie was named the 2001 Sportswoman of the Year (in the team category) by the Women's Sports Foundation and that year, she helped the Sparks win a WNBA title.

July 30, 2002: First WNBA Dunk

On July 30, 2002, Lisa Leslie became the first woman to dunk the ball in a WNBA game.

2002: First WNBA Dunk

In 2002, Lisa Leslie made history as the first player to dunk during a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) game.

2002: FIBA World Championship

In 2002, Lisa Leslie won a FIBA World Championship playing for USA Basketball in international competition.

2003: Kobe Bryant's Sexual Assault Case

In 2003, Kobe Bryant faced a sexual assault case, which was later referenced in a 2020 interview with Lisa Leslie about her friendship with Bryant.

2004: Led U.S. Team in Scoring

During the 2004 Olympic Games, Lisa Leslie led the U.S. team in scoring.

2004: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2004, Lisa Leslie won an Olympic gold medal playing for USA Basketball in international competition.

November 5, 2005: Marriage to Michael Lockwood

On November 5, 2005, Lisa Leslie married Michael Lockwood.

2005: First WNBA All-Star Game Dunk

In the 2005 WNBA All-Star Game, Lisa Leslie became the first WNBA player to dunk in an all-star game.

2007: Birth of Daughter

In 2007, Lisa Leslie took a year's leave from professional basketball for a pregnancy, and her daughter was born that same year.

2008: Return to WNBA

In 2008, Lisa Leslie returned to the WNBA for the season.

2008: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2008, Lisa Leslie won an Olympic gold medal playing for USA Basketball in international competition.

February 4, 2009: Retirement Announcement

On February 4, 2009, Lisa Leslie announced her retirement effective at the end of the 2009 season.

August 11, 2009: 6,000 Career Points

On August 11, 2009, Lisa Leslie became the first player to score 6,000 points in a career.

2009: Retirement from WNBA

In 2009, Lisa Leslie retired from the WNBA after 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks.

2009: Final WNBA Game

In 2009, Lisa Leslie's final WNBA game was Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, where the Sparks lost to the Phoenix Mercury despite Leslie's 22 points and 9 rebounds.

2010: Birth of Second Child

In 2010, Lisa Leslie had her second child.

2011: Co-Owner of Los Angeles Sparks

In 2011, Lisa Leslie became a co-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks.

2011: Top 15 WNBA Players

In 2011, Lisa Leslie was voted by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history.

2013: Celebrity Wife Swap Appearance

In 2013, Lisa Leslie switched places with Downtown Julie Brown on the show Celebrity Wife Swap.

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2015: Hall of Fame Inductions

In 2015, Lisa Leslie was inducted into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

January 28, 2016: Contestant on The New Celebrity Apprentice

On January 28, 2016, Lisa Leslie was announced as a contestant on The New Celebrity Apprentice.

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2016: WNBA Top 20@20

In 2016, Lisa Leslie was voted into the WNBA Top 20@20, in celebration of the league's 20th anniversary.

June 2018: Appearance in Uncle Drew

In June 2018, Lisa Leslie played Betty Lou in the movie "Uncle Drew".

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2018: Studio Analyst for Orlando Magic

In 2018, Lisa Leslie joined Fox Sports Florida as a studio analyst on Orlando Magic broadcasts.

January 10, 2019: Coach of the Triplets

On January 10, 2019, Lisa Leslie was named coach of the Triplets, an expansion team of the BIG3 three-on-three league founded by Ice Cube.

2019: BIG3 Championship

In 2019, after becoming coach of the Triplets, Lisa Leslie led the team to the BIG3 Championship.

February 4, 2020: Leslie Interviewed About Kobe Bryant

On February 4, 2020, Lisa Leslie was interviewed by Gayle King regarding her friendship with Kobe Bryant. The interview included questions about the sexual assault case against Bryant in 2003, and Leslie stated that the accusations did not align with her perception of him.