On this day in 1972, WNBA icon Lisa Leslie was born

WNBA icon Lisa Leslie was born on July 7, 1972. The California native began playing basketball in sixth grade and led Morningside High School to two state championships. Leslie was also a member of the University of Southern California’s women’s basketball team.

At 6’5″, according to the WNBA, the former Los Angeles Sparks center is considered to be “one of the most dynamic, popular female basketball players in the world.” She was also a leading member of Team USA’s gold-medal-winning Olympic team in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008.

FILE- In this Aug. 31, 2002, file photo, Los Angeles Sparks’ Lisa Leslie kisses her MVP trophy and holds up the championship trophy after the Sparks beat New York Liberty, 69-66, to win Game 2 of the WNBA Finals and take the championship in Los Angeles. Leslie will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Lucy Nicholson, File)

In 2001, the former Wilhelmina Agency model won WNBA’s first regular season MVP, All-Star MVP and WNBA Finals MVP titles. She currently covers women’s basketball for the sports channel ESPN.

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