Leslie Gets Third MVP

Sparks center Lisa Leslie won the WNBA’s most valuable player award Sunday, joining Sheryl Swoopes as the league’s only three-time winners.

After a season in which she made a career-high 51.1% of her shots and averaged career highs of 20 points and 3.2 assists a game, Leslie received 508 points in voting from a national panel of journalists. The 34-year-old, in her 10th year, beat Phoenix’s Diana Taurasi, who had 211 points.

“I think it’s more special because it’s now -- just to be in the 10th year and to win with so much young talent and competition,” said Leslie, who got the award before the WNBA Finals game. “Diana Taurasi was amazing this year. Seimone Augustus, Cappie Pondexter -- our league is just continuing to get better.”

Leslie, also the MVP in 2001 and 2004, said she was looking forward to getting some rest.

“I’m not sure when I’m going to stop playing,” she said, “but I’ll let you know.”