What Happened to Lisa Deshaun Leslie?

Lisa Deshaun Leslie, born on July 7, 1972, in Gardena, California, rose to prominence as a dominant force in women's basketball. Her collegiate career at the University of Southern California saw her earn multiple All-American honors and the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 1994. When the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) launched in 1997, Leslie was a foundational player, spending her entire 12-season career with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Leslie's WNBA tenure was marked by unprecedented success and trailblazing moments. She led the Sparks to back-to-back WNBA Championships in 2001 and 2002, earning Finals MVP honors in both years. She was also a three-time WNBA MVP (2001, 2004, 2006) and an eight-time WNBA All-Star. A defining moment came on July 12, 2002, when she became the first player to dunk in a WNBA game, a feat that garnered significant attention and elevated the league's profile. Internationally, Leslie was a cornerstone of the USA Basketball team, winning an astounding four consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008, making her the first team sport athlete to achieve this distinction.

Following her retirement from the WNBA in 2009, Leslie pursued diverse ventures. She earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2009 and published her autobiography, 'Don't Let the Lipstick Fool You,' around the same time. She transitioned into sports broadcasting, serving as an analyst and commentator for networks like ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox Sports Net. In 2011, she became a part-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks, a role she later sold. Her commitment to youth development led her to establish the Lisa Leslie Basketball & Leadership Academy in 2012, providing basketball training and academic tutoring.

Leslie's post-playing career has also seen significant recognition and new professional endeavors. She was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015, followed by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2019, and the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2022. In 2019, she made history again as a coach, leading the BIG3's Triplets to a championship and earning Coach of the Year honors. Beyond basketball, Leslie has expanded her entrepreneurial footprint, co-founding Aston Rose, an athlete-focused luxury real estate firm, in 2022, and serving as Chief Brand Strategy Officer for Jelenew, a cycling and fitness apparel brand.

As of 2026, Lisa Leslie remains highly active in the sports and business worlds. In February 2025, she publicly stated her decision to no longer pursue WNBA head coaching positions after being rejected by two teams, expressing her belief that the hired candidates were not more qualified. However, her broadcasting career continues to thrive; in March 2026, CBS Sports announced an expanded partnership with the WNBA, confirming Leslie's return as an analyst for 'The WNBA Tipoff Show.' She also continues her role as a studio analyst for Orlando Magic broadcasts on FanDuel Sports Network Florida (formerly FOX Sports Florida) and co-hosts CBS Sports' 'We Need To Talk.' Leslie is married to Michael Lockwood and they have two children, Lauren and Michael II. Her estimated net worth is around $5-7 million, reflecting her successful career on and off the court.