WNBA Legend Lisa Leslie on Building Legacy Beyond the Game

The WNBA in 2025 is a cultural drive, with names like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese turning into family staples amongst sports activities followers throughout the nation and past.

None of that will be potential with out pioneers of the sport like Lisa Leslie, who joined the league in its infancy in 1997 and helped the ladies’s sport attain new heights — actually.

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A platform with goal

Leslie’s resume speaks for itself. Other than being the primary WNBA participant to dunk in a sport, she gained two WNBA championships, 4 Olympic gold medals and three MVPs. Off the courtroom, she turned that success into main endorsement offers with manufacturers like Kraft Meals and Gatorade.

After retiring, she stayed near the sport, incomes an MBA, turning into part-owner of the Sparks (since offered) and training the BIG3’s Triplets to a championship in 2019. Now, 16 years after hanging up her jersey, she’s partnering with Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp to provide again, this time by supporting small enterprise homeowners.

On April 25, the WNBA legend made a shock look on the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles to rejoice Small Enterprise Hero Day, hosted by Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp. She introduced $20,000 checks to 3 nationwide small companies — Perry’s Joint, BJ’s Nevada Barbeque and the Homeless Backyard Venture — in recognition of their influence of their communities.

The occasion additionally marked the launch of Intuit’s expanded Small Enterprise Hero Program, spotlighting extra small companies making a distinction all year long.

As a part of a lineage of enterprise homeowners, Leslie understands the very important position small companies play of their communities. When she was younger, her mother give up her job to start out her personal trucking enterprise as a way to help the household. Her uncle began a celeb bodyguard firm after accidents minimize brief his faculty soccer profession.

Two of her different Uncles began their very own accounting agency, which a lot of her cousins have labored for in some unspecified time in the future.

“Small companies are sometimes family-run, that means they’re individuals working to help their households or give again to their communities,” she says. “I deeply determine with each small companies and household—that is why I like this work.”

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Above the rim and past

Whereas each athlete grinds towards a purpose, most not less than know what they’re chasing. That wasn’t the case for Lisa Leslie. She graduated from the College of Southern California three years earlier than the WNBA even existed, leaving her future on the courtroom unsure.

“Our focus needed to be on what’s subsequent,” she says. “It wasn’t nearly being a basketball participant. My mindset was at all times, ‘How am I going to earn money? How can I be an entrepreneur? How can I be self-employed?”

That entrepreneurial intuition got here from watching her mother and uncles construct companies of their very own, and it motivated her to seek for one thing she might pour herself into exterior of basketball.

Leslie at all times knew she wished to pursue modeling, finally signing with Wilhelmina earlier than heading abroad to play professionally in Italy. After her taking part in days, she leaned into a brand new set of ventures — launching an athlete-focused actual property agency, Aston Rose, and discovering a ardour for public talking.

“I do not give it some thought when it comes to cash,” she says. “For me, it is about constructing neighborhood, making an influence and provoking others. It simply feels pure to do the issues I like. Basketball gave me the platform to do this, and opened the door to a lot extra.”

At present, WNBA gamers are seen as manufacturers in their very own proper, and Leslie was forward of the curve. She carved out a multifaceted profession, balancing basketball, modeling, broadcasting and even appearing lengthy earlier than it was widespread to take action.

“I see that very same drive within the younger ladies at the moment,” she says. “Again when my colleagues and I had been beginning out, we needed to do so much simply to construct the league. A whole lot of it was unpaid — you simply confirmed up, gave your all and hoped it will result in one thing down the road. And now? That is the long run we had been working towards. At present’s gamers are reaping the advantages.”