Madame President, Nneka Ogwumike, headed for the Hall, only has a few games left before she says goodbye to Hollywood, the LA Sparks franchise that has become her own, and her storied WNBA career.
Despite being surrounded by bright lights and big city names like Dearica Hamby, Kelsey Plum (for a time), defensive specialist Ariel Atkins, sophomore sensation Cameron Brink, a most improved Rae Burrell, and fellow Sparks reunited returnee Erica Wheeler, the W’s purple and gold will not play in the postseason.
The President isn’t going out like that.
In her penultimate home game, Ogwumike spurred the Sparks on to a 105-84 extinguishing of returning expansion franchise, the Portland Fire. Thanks to the Los Angeles legend’s double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds, chased with five assists and a pair of steals for the offensive and defensive ends.
All whilst becoming the fourth player in WNBA history to record a milestone 8,000 points.
Candace Parker, Penny Toler (who scored the first basket in WNBA history), DeLisha Milton-Jones (coming off having her jersey retired here, last month), back-to-back defensive player of the year Alana Beard. What could have been with Plum. What could be with Brink. Nneka Ogwumike may just be the best Los Angeles Sparks player of all-time.
Or any basketball legend to don purple and gold in the City of Angels. WNBA or NBA. Like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
When it comes to Madame President, she gets my vote. But did we forget about ‘The First Lady of the WNBA’ when it comes to the oval office that is the centre court of the hallowed hardwood?
The one and only, Lisa Leslie.
Ogwumike’s jersey will join the First Lady’s number nine in the rafters soon. You can set the date on your calendars to come. But before all that, what better way to cement the career of the original Spark than with a statue outside of STAP…excuse me, Crypto.com Arena?
You can bank on it.
Especially with the Los Angeles Sparks bringing their inaugural jerseys back this season to celebrate the WNBA’s 30-year anniversary.
Their three-decade one, too, as the Sparks and the New York Liberty honoured the first WNBA game ever played with a rematch, that was clutch iced by no other but, you guessed it, Nneka.
One day after the anniversary of former running mate Candace Parker winning her second league MVP in 2013, Leslie has been honoured with a beautiful statue.
Even without its stellar size it would still have trouble fitting into Lisa Leslie’s trophy cabinet. Two championships. Three Most Valuable Player awards. A pair of Defensive Player of the Year awards for the big after leading the L in blocks two times. Eight All-star game selections and three MVP trophies for those contests. Another eight All-WNBA first team votes.
The first player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 points. The first one to dunk in an actual game, immortalized in this iron statue. A spot on ‘The Simpsons’. An amazing autobiography, ‘Don’t Let The Lipstick Fool You’, for her life story.
We haven’t even got to the Olympics yet…and of course, the Naismith Hall of Fame.
Springfield to Springfield.
A member of the 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and you can be sure, 30th WNBA anniversary teams.
Before the ceremony, game and halftime show where she told the Sparks faithful, “Every opportunity I had was a moment to change the mind of a man who was a hater. It was a chance to convince somebody who didn’t believe in women’s basketball,” fans had a chance to interact with a tribute to a G.O.A.T. of the game.
A special locker room activation was joined by a photo-op were fans could recreate Lisa’s iconic photo with the Hollywood sign backdrop. Attendees also had the opportunity to receive a commemorative Lisa Leslie ticket for the game and banner posters. They could also write a thank you, Nneka card for the next LA legend who will one day haver her own statue in Star Plaza, alongside the likes of Wayne Gretsky, Chick Hearn and Gianna Bryant.
The likeness was legendary, as Lisa Leslie’s LA Sparks statue unveiling was hosted by ‘Independence Day’ and ‘Kill Bill’ actress and Sparks affiliate Vivica A. Fox and honoured by the great Magic Johnson, ‘Big Game’ James Worthy, Byron Scott and fellow Showtime era legend, and former head coach of the Sparks and Leslie, Michael Cooper. First league coach in Marianne Stanley and of course, Candace Parker, too. Magic even passed the torch again narrating a tribute video for ‘The First Lady of the WNBA’.
Eleven-feet of bronze for the gold standard created by sculptors Julie Rotblatt Amrany and Omri Amrany for this marriage of legend and legacy. The second WNBA statue outside an arena, following Seattle Storm’s greatest of all-time Sue Bird, this 700-pound tribute carries the weight of the woman that put the world of the Women’s National Basketball Association on her back and broad shoulders.
Before Bird. Before Diana Taurasi. CP3, Candace Parker, or CC, Caitlin Clark. A’ja Wilson and all the greats that have been and are to come.
Tonight, LA became LL. Lisa Leslie’s.
