WNBA legend Lisa Leslie shared an in-depth conversation with Las Vegas Aces president Nikki Fargas, revealing some incredible insight on the rise of women’s basketball. 

Leslie credits the game’s recent popularity to players like A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark, two players with massive followings on and off the court.

She believes the league has a great opportunity to grow and develop through stars and up-and-coming rookies. Leslie spoke on her responsibilities as a star in the league when it was first introduced.

“For the WNBA to be established, I understood that it was more than just about me and numbers. It was about relationships, building community, kissing babies, signing every autograph. Back then, we used to have to sit and sign autographs for anybody who got in line. We weren’t on a timer; we didn’t get to go shower. We would sit and literally sign for anyone who wanted an autograph,” said Leslie via Las Vegas Aces YouTube.

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Leslie was a pioneer for change in women’s basketball. She ended her career as a 3x WNBA MVP, 2x WNBA Champion, and 8x WNBA All-Star.

Jun 10, 2024; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) and guard Caitlin Clark (22) react after a basket against the Connecticut Sun in the first quarter at Mohegan Sun Arena.

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Leslie highlighted the collective effort and personal sacrifices needed to build and expand the WNBA while she was one of the league’s biggest names. She thought focusing on community building in terms of fan recognition would help the league rise.

“I really understood that in order for us to grow our league, for the WNBA to really have lasting power, we had to give of ourselves and not ask for a whole lot in return. It’s one of those things when you look at the history of women. There are times when we get a chance to vote or to have a voice or a seat at the table. Every time and space has its moment. We couldn’t say all of the things that we thought. We couldn’t be as bold as an Angel Reese can be now, which I love, but it wasn’t that time,” continued Leslie.

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During her time in the WNBA from 1997 to 2009, Leslie had her eyes set on leaguewide change. She wanted fans and media to view women’s basketball as an established sport and knew that she needed television and sponsorship deals to attract attention to the league.

“That time was for us to build. It was for us to do a lot of things for free that we should have been paid for but weren’t. It was about getting to the table with all of these sponsors and the possibilities of growing our league. We needed sponsorship dollars—not for the player, but for the league to exist. We needed television deals.”

Reflecting on different eras, Leslie discussed the unique challenges each faced, stressing the importance of sacrifices and foundational work for the league’s survival.

“So, when you look at us as a product, I always knew that our games were amazing, but I understood we had a responsibility to every new fan who came to the game, especially the men. We had to show out. I had to show up. I didn’t have time to have days off,” said Leslie.

“Our level of responsibility was trying to get people to not walk out that door and to invite someone else to come in.”

Players like Clark and Wilson have certainly helped Leslie achieve that goal. Their elite play on the court and the immense fanfare that they have developed outside of basketball has truly helped the game grow.