Lisa Leslie has been called a reluctant hero. Growing up in Inglewood, California, young Lisa was not interested in playing basketball. Because she was teased about her height and constantly asked why she didn't play the game, she actually disliked the sport. It wasn't until she was a junior high school student that Lisa began to see her six-foot height as an asset rather than an embarrassment. Urged by a classmate to play, she finally agreed, and the rest is basketball history. In high school and college she was one of the top players in the nation, leading her team to state championships as well as earning personal accolades. After winning a gold medal with her team at the 1996 Olympics, Lisa realized her cherished goal of playing professional women's basketball when the Women's National Basketball Association(WNBA) was formed. Joining the Los Angeles Sparks as a center, Lisa has become one of the superstars of women's basketball.
