Lisa Leslie, who joined the W.N.B.A.’s Los Angeles Sparks for the league’s inaugural season in 1997, was a three-time most valuable player and an eight-time All-Star before retiring last year. A former star at Southern California, she was in Manhattan recently to help promote the Capital One Cup, a new award in Division I college sports. It rewards athletic programs for their cumulative performance across multiple men’s and women’s sports.
Do you miss playing in the W.N.B.A.?
I don’t miss playing, but I love being close to the game as a broadcaster. I covered the Lakers this past season for ABC and women’s Pac-10 for Fox Sports, and I’m looking forward to just moving further into broadcasting. Hopefully, my destination is to be in a studio with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith talking basketball.
On what other projects are you embarking?
I love to do public speaking. I think my spiritual gift is my ability to speak.
Would you ever consider a comeback?
In July, I was asked by the Sparks to come back as a player, but I said no because I’m really enjoying this chapter of my life. I was always able to contribute at a level that was expected of me, and I don’t want to stay out there until I can’t do that anymore, which a lot of athletes do. I don’t want to come back and get my shot blocked, so I will not Brett Favre you with a comeback.
What are you most proud of in your basketball career?
There have been many awards. I won two championships, and I’m the only athlete to win four consecutive Olympic gold medals in a team sport. I love to wear that red, white and blue and represent my country. But aside from all the awards, it has been the reward of being a role model that is probably my biggest achievement.
What was it like to win two championships?
It was great because they were back to back. We beat New York the second time. Uh, sorry, New York.
You recently gave birth to a second child.
It’s awesome. It’s so exciting. You can just see their future. My daughter is supposed to be 6-4 and my son should be close to 7 feet, so we have them exercising already. I’m 6-5, my husband is 6-7, so we have a good chance of having some real good athletes in the house.
Are you a good cook?
Absolutely. I make a mean gumbo, spaghetti and casserole.
Who was your idol growing up?
James Worthy. Big Game James. I was a Lakers fan. I watched the Lakers during the Showtime era with Magic Johnson, and anytime Magic needed a basket he would tell you himself that he’s going to Big Game James. I wanted to be like him, so I would get on the block and make that same kind of baseline spin move.
What is your basketball legacy?
I think my legacy is that I tried to be the most versatile player, man or woman, who played the game at my position. I say I played center because that’s what they needed, but I could play forward or step back and shoot 3s. Versatility and consistency were very important to me. I tried to show up every single day and give it my all.
Tell us something that no one knows about you.
I’m very much like Lucille Ball. I’m clumsy and awkward at times, and I have a lot of Lucy moments, a lot of funny and crazy things seem to happen to me.