In June, WNBA player Lisa Leslie will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. According to the organization’s website, “voting is based on various factors, which include moral character, integrity, sportsmanship, record of performance, ability, national or international recognition, and contributions to the game of women’s basketball.”
A California native and University of Southern California graduate, Leslie joined the WNBA in 1997 and retired in 2009. During Leslie’s tenure with the Los Angeles Sparks, the team won two WNBA championships. Three times, she won the WNBA’s coveted Most Valuable Player award; she is also noted for being the first player in the WNBA to perform a slam dunk.?
The married mother of two is the recipient of four Olympic gold medals. In addition to her basketball career, she has made several TV appearances on shows such as The Game and Sister Sister and even considered a career as a model, after signing a contract with the Wilhemina Agency.
In 2001, the Women’s Sports Foundation named Leslie Sportswoman of the Year.
The Class of 2015 will formally be inducted at a ceremony on June 13.
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