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ON-SALE APRIL 29th
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A three-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time MVP of the WNBA, and the first woman ever to dunk in a professional basketball game, Lisa Leslie is considered one of the greatest players in the history of women’s basketball. Now in her own words, she points the spotlight onto her remarkable life off the court, where being a confident champion was not always simple.
A timid, awkward kid growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Lisa was lanky, over six-feet tall in the sixth grade, and opponents constantly challenged her. She struggled to overcome self-imposed fears and limitations, but as her interest in basketball grew, she toughened both her game and her resolve. She also learned she could retain her femininity and throw a few elbows too.
Still there was the nagging notion that girls – even tall girls and especially pretty ones – could not play well. At the same time, Lisa’s home life, though loving, was unstable. Lisa never knew her father. Her mother worked as a traveling truck-driver to support the family, leaving Lisa to shuffle between relatives. Lisa’s beloved older sister seemed only to torment her, harbor hidden jealousies, and would later go on to steal her identity and almost ruin her finances. And as a young woman, it would take two broken engagements before Lisa finally found the love of her life.
Yet overcoming tremendous doubts are what paved the way to Lisa’s greatest achievements—scoring 101 points in the first half of a high school basketball game; signing with Wilhelmina Models and appearing in Vogue magazine; and of course traveling the world and winning championship after championship…after championship.
Today, Lisa is a beautiful, poised, assertive, six-foot-five-inch basketball powerhouse. Her elegance and charm have made her a favorite with fans, the fashion world, and even Hollywood; and her superb athleticism has helped her remain a feared competitor for over a decade.
With grace, strength and hard-won self-assurance, Lisa Leslie shares her empowering story about finding grace under pressure, balancing a life of contradiction without losing yourself, and exceeding expectations – including your own – by playing like a girl. |
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“Lisa is doing for women what Michael Jordan has done for young men.”
-Michael Cooper, Lakers great and former L.A. Sparks head coach
“Lisa reminds us all that you can play the game and still be a lady.”
-Delisha Milton-Jones, former L.A. Sparks forward
“Lisa Leslie is absolutely one of the best players ever to play the game. She is a leader who works hard, plays hard, and carries herself with incredible poise, grace, and dignity. She is an icon and a perfect role model.”
-Bill Walton, ESPN commentator and NBA Hall of Famer
“There are a lot of young girls out there who look up to Lisa Leslie. I think it’s great that they can look at Lisa and say we don’t have to make sacrifices.”
-Sheryl Swoopes, Houston Comets and U.S. Olympic Team |
“I have never seen a more dynamic, more dominant player in my life. I never met anyone as professional or as dedicated. She’s not a ‘some-timer.’ She is an ‘all-the-timer.’ Lisa is one of the all-time best.”
-Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury and U.S. Olympic Team
“I have been very proud to say that in the WNBA we have players who are extraordinary athletes, who fans relate to, who are appealing, and who are good role models for kids. No one is more so than Lisa Leslie.”
-Val Ackerman, WNBA’s first president
“She has it all: beauty, brains, and athleticism. She brings class, fashion, and she’s sassy in her own way. She has all that and the championship rings to back it up.”
-Nancy Lieberman, ESPN analyst and Hall of Famer
“Lisa captures everything that any town would want in a local hero.”
-Johnny Buss, L.A. Sparks team president |
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