Trojan Great Lisa Leslie To Receive NCAA Silver Anniversary Award

One of the most decorated and recognized Trojans in history, former USC women's basketball player Lisa Leslie has been selected as a recipient of the 2019 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award. A four-time Olympian, WNBA champion and USC star, Leslie is one of six former NCAA student-athletes to be recognized for their collegiate and professional achievements. Leslie is among fellow 2019 honorees Tim Cullen, Mia Hamm, David Hirsch, Heath Shuler and Jason Varitek. The 2019 Silver Anniversary Award recipients will be honored at the Honors Celebration at the NCAA Convention in Orlando on Jan. 23, 2019.

The first-ever USC basketball player to win the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award, Leslie is the 14th overall Trojan to earn the award, joining such USC notables as Lynn Swann, John Naber, Pat Haden and Stan Smith. The last USC winner was Rodney Peete in 2014. Leslie is the second Woman of Troy to win the award, following USC volleyball standout Debbie Landreth Brown's honor in 2003.

Leslie was a three-time All-American at USC, where she tallied 2,414 career points and 1,214 career rebounds, making her the program's No. 3 all-time scorer and No. 4 all-time rebounder. She holds USC's shot-blocking record with 321. Leslie was the unanimous 1994 National Player of the Year. After completing her eligibility and degree in communication, Leslie moved on to play professionally in the WNBA for 12 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks. While with the Sparks, she won two WNBA team titles and was named a first-team All-WNBA performer eight times. She is the WNBA's No. 3 all-time leader in rebounds with 3,307 and is No. 2 in blocks with 822. She ranks sixth all-time in scoring. Leslie also led Team USA to four Olympic gold medals in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. In 2015, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In January 2018, she began her role as a studio analyst for the Orlando Magic on Fox Sports Florida and is a contributing analyst for CBS Sports. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association named the inaugural award given to the top centers in Division I women's basketball the Lisa Leslie Award. She has become an advocate for cancer awareness, beginning as a spokesperson for the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations. She has actively raised money and awareness for the Kay Yow Foundation for cancer research. She is the co-creator of Empowered — an online community of women aiming to help young female entrepreneurs succeed through mentorship, guidance and coaching.

The Silver Anniversary Award annually recognizes distinguished individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their college athletics careers. Representatives of NCAA member schools, conferences and past awardees select the recipients each year.

In Leslie's Own Words:
"The first class I took at Southern California was a summer course before my freshman year called, simply, "time management" — it has shaped my life, helping me recognize the importance of proper preparation. Since then, I have achieved success by planning ahead, staying organized and mapping out my goals, both short- and long-term. I'm so thankful to that Franklin Planner I used in college! Although my iPhone has taken its place, my calendar, alarms and to-do list are still the keys to my success. Whether it's having a successful marriage by making time for date night, organizing my never-ending "mommy to-do list," or balancing my five-job career — real estate associate, Fox Sports analyst, CBS Sports co-host, public speaker and coach — I am grateful for that time management class I took back in college.

"Off the court, I'm proudest of my family. I'm so blessed to have a loving, supportive husband and best friend. He loves to see me win in life, and I am able to be the best wife, mom and entrepreneur I can be because of his love and support. We have been blessed with healthy, smart and talented kids who make our days worth every minute of our hard work and dedication to each other."

University Southern California Trojans

Trojan Great Lisa Leslie To Receive NCAA Silver Anniversary Award

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