The statue’s unveiling marks a milestone for recognizing women’s sports and aligns with wider efforts to honor female athletes, following Seattle’s Sue Bird statue in 2025.

The Los Angeles Sparks will honor Lisa Leslie with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, making her the second Sparks player to receive a franchise statue after Sue Bird.

The statue, crafted by sculptors Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany, will be unveiled September 20 before a game against the Portland Fire and will join a lineup of 15 other arena statues.

Leslie’s statue will be part of Crypto.com Arena’s outdoor collection, celebrating her leadership and impact on the city and women’s basketball alongside legends like Magic Johnson.

Magic Johnson, Sparks co-owner, praised Leslie for her pivotal role in back-to-back championships and her broad influence on women’s basketball and the L.A. sports community.

Johnson highlighted Leslie’s legacy beyond playing—coaching, ownership, commentary, and business work that expand opportunities for women in sports.

The statue project reflects broader Sparks efforts to celebrate legacy while investing in the team’s future, including coaching changes and facility upgrades.

Leslie was a trailblazer, famously dunking in a WNBA game on July 30, 2002, symbolizing barrier-breaking moments in the sport.

Fans had clamored for a statue since 2019, and the timing aligns with the Sparks’ 30th anniversary and improvements like a new practice facility and post-CBA changes.

Leslie expressed pride in being cemented in Los Angeles and thanked coaches, teammates, fans, family, and friends for their support, emphasizing the strength of the support network.

Leslie is a Sparks legend with two WNBA titles, multiple MVPs, and franchise records in points and rebounds, and she was the first player to dunk in a game with her No. 9 retired in 2010.

She is a four-time Olympic gold medalist, solidifying her status as a global basketball icon and one of the sport’s all-time greats.