Lisa Leslie

Lisa Leslie misses a rebound as the Washington Mystics’ Crystal Langhorne benefits from the long bounce in a June 26 game at Staples Center. Leslie plans to hold a news conference on Wednesday, when she is expected to announce her retirement from the league.  (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)

Lisa Leslie, 6 feet, 5 inches tall, has the height advantage over the SparKids dance group. Leslie poses with the kids during a media day in May at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. The dance group performs at home Sparks games.  (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

Team USA captain Lisa Leslie looks to score against Chinese defender Liljie Miao in the first half of a Group B preliminary game at the Beijing Olympics. Leslie scored 10 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the Americans routed China 108-63.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Leslie shares a smooch with husband Michael Lockwood after he presented her with a birthday cake after the Sparks defeated the Indiana Fever 72-60 in a WNBA basketball game on July 7, 2006, in Los Angeles.  (Jeff Lewis / Associated Press)

Leslie competes for the U.S. at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

U.S. women’s basketball players, from left, Natalie Williams, Lisa Leslie and Nikki McCray celebrate after defeating Australia for the gold medal in the final during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Sparks MVP Lisa Leslie kisses the championship trophy with teammate Nicky McCrimmon by her side as they celebrate their second WNBA championship during a victory party in Hollywood on Sept. 3, 2002. Leslie’s WNBA career has been incomparable. She was the first player to reach the 3,000-point mark, in 2003  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Leslie is greeted by teammate Sophia Witherspoon after a break in play after Leslie slammed the first dunk in WNBA history in the first half against the Miami Sol at Staples Center in 2002.  (Alexander Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)

Leslie puckers up during one of many high points in her career. She kisses the championship trophy during a presentation ceremony crowning the Sparks’ win over the Charlotte Sting. Leslie was MVP of the series.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)