Sparks’ Leslie Is Expected to Be MVP

Spark center Lisa Leslie is expected to be announced as the WNBA’s most valuable player for the regular season today, according to sources. It is her second MVP award -- she was previously honored in 2001 -- and her second major award this season. Last week, Leslie was named the WNBA’s defensive player of the year.

An eight-year veteran, Leslie, 32, finished third in scoring at 17.6 points a game. She led the WNBA in rebounding (9.9), blocked shots (2.88) and double-doubles (17), and was third in field-goal shooting (49.4%). She also recorded the league’s only triple-double when she scored 29 points and had 15 rebounds and 10 blocked shots against Detroit.

Leslie helped the Sparks achieve the league’s best regular season record at 25-9, but they were upset in the Western Conference playoffs by Sacramento.

Leslie will be honored along with the league’s first- and second-team All-WNBA players before the first game of the WNBA Finals between Connecticut and Seattle.