Lisa Leslie Named WNBA Player of the Week

NEW YORK, June 19, 2006 – Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks was named WNBA Player of the Week for games played Monday, June 12 through Sunday, June 18. This marks the second time this season and the 12th in her career that the two-time WNBA MVP has earned the Player of the Week award.

Leslie averaged 24.7 points, 7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 blocks and shot 61.2 percent (30-for-49) from the field and 70 percent (14-for-20) from the free throw line, as the Sparks posted a perfect 3-0 record on the week. The Sparks have won 5 straight games and hold the best record in the Western Conference (8-3).

Leslie started the week by posting 26 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks while shooting 11 for 15 field goals in an 84-98 win over the Phoenix Mercury on June 13. She then tied her career-high of 32 points on June 17 in an 82-70 victory over the Connecticut Sun, while grabbing 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and shooting 12 for 22 from the field.

Leslie, who just last week was named to the WNBA's All-Decade Team, previously won Player of the Week honors following the first week of the season. Her second such honor comes after a pair of rookies -- Minnesota Lynx guard Seimone Augustus and Phoenix Mercury guard Cappie Pondexter -- captured the award in weeks 2 and 3, respectively.

She currently leads the league outright in total rebounds (115) and is tied for the lead in blocks (24) and double-doubles (6) while also ranking third in scoring with 22.2 points per game.

Other candidates for WNBA Player of the Week were Charlotte’s Tangela Smith, Detroit’s Cheryl Ford, Indiana’s Tamika Catchings, San Antonio’s Shannon Johnson and Washington’s Nikki Teasley and Alana Beard.

2006 WNBA Player of the Week winners

Week of 5/30/06: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
Week of 6/05/06: Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx
Week of 6/12/06: Cappie Pondexter, Phoenix Mercury
Week of 6/19/06: Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks

About the WNBA
Featuring 14 teams and the greatest female basketball players from around the world, the WNBA is the longest-running and most successful women’s professional team sports league in U.S. history. The league’s historic 10th Anniversary season, which tipped off on Saturday, May 20, features significant interactivity with fans who will play a key role in selecting the league’s All-Decade Team, the WNBA’s Greatest Moments and the starters for the 2006 WNBA All-Star Game set to take place on July 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York City (live on ESPN at 7:30 ET). The WNBA’s 10th Anniversary season includes appointment viewing on Tuesday nights as ESPN2 will televise 14 WNBA games – including five doubleheaders – on Tuesdays this spring/summer. WNBA games and programming also will be shown in 198 countries via 79 telecasters in 34 languages this season.