Inglewood to consider naming street after WNBA star Lisa Leslie

By Emilie St. John

Contributing Writer

INGLEWOOD — The city advisory committee for naming or renaming a public facility is considering naming a street after former WNBA star Lisa Leslie.

Neil Holmes, director of community relations and social impact for the Los Angeles Sparks, submitted the request to rename the southbound side of 85th Street, between Crenshaw Boulevard and 11th Avenue (adjacent to the Inglewood Public Library), as “Lisa Leslie Way” in honor of her basketball legacy that is rooted in Inglewood.

“Hall of Famer Leslie attended Morningside High School, and by the age of 14, she had received more than 100 college recruiting letters,” Holmes wrote. “By the time she was a sophomore, she could dunk on an open court.

“She was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, taking them to the 1989 California state championship. In 1990, she tied the national record for points scored with Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller, scoring 101 points, all in the first half.”

Holmes indicated the renaming of the street serves multiple purposes for aligning with the opening of the new Sprouts grocery store and creating a pathway to equity in education through encouraged reading due to its proximity to the library

Leslie played for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA from 1997 to 2009. She was a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medal winner. The number-seven pick in the 1997 inaugural WNBA draft, she followed her career at the USC with eight WNBA All-Star selections and two WNBA championships over 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks before retiring in 2009.

Throughout her WNBA career, Leslie also played for USA Basketball in international competition, winning four Olympic gold medals (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008) and two FIBA World Championships (1998, 2002).

In 2015, Leslie was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame twice: in 2015 for her individual career, and in 2026 as a member of the 1996 United States women’s Olympic basketball team.

In 2022, Leslie was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Last month, a statue of her was unveiled outside of Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles.

“This game does not get to where we are today without all of you who have been here, sitting with us, riding with us,” Leslie said. “Every time I’ve been in this arena, I have never left this arena without signing autographs, taking pictures, and giving you guys my all. I left it out here on the floor because that’s what you deserve as fans.”

Leslie played for the Sparks from their inaugural 1997 season through 2009, missing the 2007 season because she was pregnant. She won the league’s most valuable player award three times and led the Sparks to championships in 2001 and 2002.

“And at the end of the day, it’s more than a sport,” Leslie said at her statue unveiling. “It’s an opportunity to change people’s lives. It’s an opportunity to build community. It’s an opportunity to bring people together. So if you don’t remember anything about me, I thank God that I have a statue out there to remind you, but remember, it’s always been about love and basketball.”

The Inglewood City Council will make the final decision on renaming the street at a future meeting.

Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.