Lisa Leslie's Firsts
Lisa Leslie is a championship on and off the court.
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Lisa Leslie
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Schoolin' off the Court - Lisa Leslie’s success on and off the court began far before the WNBA. One of her success' main pillars is education. In 1994, she received her first degree in Communications from the University of Southern California. She would later continue her studies, receiving an MBA from University of Phoenix. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
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Golden Girl - Ending a fifteen year absence of professional women’s basketball in the United States, Leslie and eleven of the top women players formed the 1995-1996 National Team. They dominated on their international training tour and took the gold in the ‘96 Olympics, earning Leslie her first trip to the games and first gold medal. (Photo: Rick Stewart /Allsport)
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Ripping the Runway - After a record breaking collegiate career and gold medal-winning Olympic run, Leslie took advantage of her growing notoriety by delving into modeling. She signed her first modeling contract with Wilhemina Models in 1996. Her modeling career saw the 6-foot-5 beauty grace runways and the pages of top fashion magazines including Vogue and Glamour. (Photo: Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
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The WNBA's Inaugural Draft - After ousting competition in their 1996 Olympic appearance, the U.S. Women’s Basketball team had proven the sport’s viability in America. In 1996, the Women’s National Basketball Association was incorporated. Leslie was the number seven pick in the inaugural draft, becoming one of the league’s founding players. She began playing with the Los Angeles Sparks in January 1997. (Photo: Elsa Hasch /Allsport)
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