SoCal legend Lisa Leslie becomes the first WNBA player to get a statue outside Crypto.com Arena

The Los Angeles Sparks announced via press release on Thursday that the statue will be unveiled Sunday, September 20, before the Sparks’ game against the Portland Fire. History will be made at Crypto. com Arena this fall, but not inside the legendary arena, rather outside it, with a SoCal basketball legend getting immortalized in Star Plaza.

Getty Images The Sparks announced via press release on Thursday that the statue will be unveiled Sunday, September 20, before the Sparks’ game against the Portland Fire. NCAA Photos via Getty Images The Sparks announced via press release on Thursday that the statue will be unveiled Sunday, September 20, before the Sparks’ game against the Portland Fire. NBAE via Getty Images She becomes just the second WNBA player ever to get her own statue outside of the arena she helped fill, following Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird, whose statue was unveiled last August outside Climate Pledge Arena.

“To be cemented in Los Angeles, the city that raised me, I couldn’t be more proud to be a role model forever! ” Leslie, 53, said in a statement. “God has blessed me and I have truly given my all to this sport and our community.

I am thankful to my coaches, teammates, incredible fans, and, most importantly, my family and friends,” she added. “As the saying goes, ‘The wolf is only as strong as the pack,’ and I’ve been fortunate to have an amazing pack supporting me every step of the way,” she concluded. “To be cemented in Los Angeles, the city that raised me, I couldn’t be more proud to be a role model forever!