Considered one of the most dynamic, popular female basketball players in the world, Lisa Leslie is a pioneer of the sport. She is a four-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time WNBA MVP. Fans voted her slam-dunk, the first in WNBA history, as the “Greatest Moment” in the WNBA's first decade.
Standing six feet tall when she was in the sixth grade, Leslie picked up a basketball in middle school and has never looked back. While at Morningside High School in Inglewood, CA, she led the team to two state championships.
In college at the University of Southern California, she finished as the all time Pac-10 leader in points, rebounds, and blocked shots. After college, Leslie launched her modeling career, signing with the prestigious Wilhelmina Agency in 1996.
In 2001, Leslie was the first WNBA player to win the regular season MVP, the All-Star Game MVP and the WNBA Finals MVP in the same season. That year, she also led the Los Angeles Sparks to their first WNBA Championship. In 2002, after leading the Sparks to their second consecutive WNBA Championship, she was named MVP of both the WNBA Finals and WNBA All-Star Game. She garnered WNBA MVP award honors again in 2006.
Not only has she dominated the WNBA for the past 12 seasons, she has led Team USA as a member of the gold-winning U.S. Olympic teams in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. She is the first team sport athlete to win four consecutive Olympic Gold Medals and is the all-time leader in points and rebounds for the Women’s Olympic team.
Leslie sat out the 2007 WNBA season as she and her husband, Michael Lockwood welcomed their first child in June. During this time, Leslie wrote her memoir, Don’t Let the Lipstick Fool You: The Making of a Champion, which illustrates her journey on how she became a notable woman athlete and, ultimately, a champion.
In September, 2009, after receiving 4 Olympic gold medals, two WNBA championships, three league MVPs and being named the league's all-time leading scorer (6,263 points) and rebounder (3,307), Leslie announced her official retirement from the WNBA, ending a stellar career
In addition to her international exposure as a four-time Olympic Gold Medalist, WNBA superstar and Author, Lisa is also an ESPN broadcaster of women’s college basketball, wife of former U.S. Air Force Captain and recent author, Michael Lockwood, mother to three precocious young daughters, as well as a philanthropist and community activist.
A true champion both on and off the court, Lisa Leslie is sure to continue to inspire audiences around the country as she shares her incredible story.
Lisa Leslie, WNBA champion & Olympic gold medalist, is available through IMG Speakers bureau for speaking engagements. Lisa Leslie is also available for Olympic appearances, corporate hospitality events, meet and greets, and much more. Please contact IMG Speakers at 212-774-6735 or speakers@imgworld.com for more information on booking Lisa Leslie.
