When a star shines, many may be amazed by her light, but there are those who will criticize her and try to extinguish her. Former Los Angeles Sparks player Lisa Leslie knows this all too well.
Although she was a four-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA champion, she didn’t always have it easy. However, she was able to be a great reference for those who dreamed of being like her and is something she is very proud of.
This is how the player herself explained it in a dialogue with SB Nation:
I have loved being a role model my whole career…. I will never stop being a strong advocate for women and girls. God gave me this platform to have a positive impact on our communities while letting his light shine, I don’t take that responsibility lightly
What’s in store for future generations?
Just because Lisa is a great role model and advocate for women’s rights, doesn’t mean that new generations won’t suffer what Leslie herself went through. Her teammates and even the players who will be drafted in 2025, continue to suffer from discrimination and misogyny, no matter how good they are, the color of their skin or where they come from. In fact, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, new rising stars, suffer daily comments on their social media posts.
Fortunately, it’s not all negative. DeWanna Bonner, two-time WNBA champion and one of the latest additions to the Indiana Fever this season, looks to the future with hope: “Now we can express ourselves more…. We were misunderstood for a long time, people didn’t necessarily know we had fashion sense and style. Now we can express it more than ever,” she admitted.
The truth is that more and more families are enjoying the sport and it is gaining more territory in everyday life, causing the public’s perception to change.
In addition, Bonner was able to make and make clear a big distinction: “I am someone different outside of basketball…. We all have a life off the court”, and closed by saying:
We’re human.
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