Overview
- The Sparks unveiled the statue during a ceremony tied to their home game on Sunday, Sept. 20, and the monument opened to the public the following day.
- The piece, called “The First Lady,” stands 11 feet tall on a reported 4.5-foot base and was created by sculptors Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany.
- The sculpture depicts Leslie’s July 30, 2002 slam dunk — the first in-game dunk in WNBA history — and includes personal details such as her hair ribbons and engraved family names.
- Leslie delivered a halftime speech thanking fans and reflecting on the league’s growth as attendees including Magic Johnson, Candace Parker and former coaches joined family and former teammates to celebrate.
- As the first Los Angeles Sparks player with a statue in Star Plaza and only the second woman honored there, the monument cements Leslie’s legacy and raises the public profile of women’s professional basketball for young players and fans.