2022 Class of FIBA Hall of Fame: Lisa Leslie

MIES (Switzerland) - Two-time  FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup champion and four-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie is having her epic career recognized by being inducted to the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Leslie is being enshrined in the Class of 2022 as part of a nine-strong group of individuals that have all contributed enormously to the development of women's basketball.

As well as the USA standout, Robyn Maher (Australia), Catarina Pollini (Italy), Jurgita Streimikyte-Virbickiene (Lithuania) and Mame Maty Mbengue (Senegal) are also being recognized for their achievements as players. There is also recognition for coaches Geno Auriemma (USA), Antonio Barbosa (Brazil) and Maria Planas (Spain), while Milan 'Ciga' Vasojevic (Serbia) will be inducted posthumously.

One of the most decorated players in international basketball history, Leslie's list of accomplishments seems to be never-ending and especially when you also factor in her WNBA resume, which is just as stunning.

It was arguably in the Olympic Games that Leslie made the most noise. Not only winning a staggering four gold medals in 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2004, but also doing it as the USA's leading scorer on three of those occasions. The center played 32 games at the Games and never tasted defeat once. 

Having had to settle for bronze on her FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup debut in 1994, she would not only push on to land gold in 1998, but would repeat that feat in 2002 and take MVP honors for good measure. 

Running simultaneously to her incredible exploits representing her country was Leslie becoming the face of the WNBA. Her strength, poise and skill on the court was a big hit with fans and viewers from its inception in 1997. 

A three-time MVP and an eight-time All-Star, Leslie became the face of the WNBA, also delivering one of the most iconic moments in female hoops when she threw down the league's first dunk in 2002.

She was also the first baller to score 6,000 WNBA points, scooped two WNBA Championships, was the first player to the win the Regular Season MVP, All-Star Game MVP and WNBA Finals MVP awards in the first season. Perhaps it was not a surprise that after she ended her career on the court, the Los Angeles Sparks retired her jersey number in her honor. 

Her accomplishments have already resulted in her being enshrined to the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame in 2013, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in the same year.

Now Leslie can also proudly add induction to the distinguished FIBA Hall of Fame to her lengthy list of honors.

Name	Lisa LESLIE
Category of Inductee	Player (Center)
Date of birth	July 7th 1972
Place of birth	Compton, California - United States of America
Nationality	American
Height	1.96 m – 6ft 5in
Clubs	USC ( 1990 - 1994 ) Alcamo ( 1995 ) Los Angeles Sparks ( 1997 - 2009 ) Spart&K M.R Vidnoje ( 2006) [/unordered]
National Team highlights	FIBA World Championship for Junior Women (1989) University Games gold medalist (1991) Jones Cup gold medalist (1992) FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup bronze medalist (1994) Two-time FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup gold medalist (1998, 2002) Four-time Olympic Games gold medalist (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008) FIBA Diamond Ball winner (2008) [/unordered]
Individual highlights	FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup MVP (2002) Honda Sports Award (1994) Two-time WNBA Finals MVP (2001, 2002) Three-time WNBA MVP (2001, 2004, 2006) Eight-time WNBA All-Star (1999-2003, 2005, 2006, 2009) Three-time WNBA All-Star MVP (1999, 2001, 2002) Two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2004, 2008) Two-time WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2006, 2008) WNBA 10th Anniversary Team (2006) WNBA 15th Anniversary Team (2011) WNBA 20th Anniversary Team (2016) WNBA 25th Anniversary Team (2021) No 9 jersey retired by Los Angeles Sparks No 33 jersey retired by USC First player to dunk in a WNBA game First player to reach 6,000 points in the WNBA Enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2015) Enshrined into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (2015) Enshrined into the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame (2013) Three-time USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year (1993, 1998, 2002) Three-time Olympic USA Team leading scorer (1996, 2000, 2004) 32-0 Win / Loss record in the Olympic Games [/unordered]

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