Lisa Leslie Named WNBA Player of the Week

NEW YORK, JUNE 16 � Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks was named the WNBA Player of the Week for games played Monday, June 9 through Sunday, June 15.

Leslie played all but four minutes in the Sparks� three wins on the week, averaging 21.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.00 steals and 2.33 blocked shots while connecting on 50 percent (28-of-56) of her field goals.

Leslie has posted seven double-doubles in 2003. Ray Amati/WNBAE/Getty Images

Los Angeles� 3-0 week pushed its record to a perfect 9-0, tying the WNBA mark for most consecutive wins to start the season, originally established by the 2001 version of the Sparks. Leslie is averaging a league-best 20.2 points, is second in the league in rebounding (10.8), first in blocked shots (2.78), first in minutes (37.0) and tied for seventh in steals (1.67).

The 6-5 center scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the Sparks� 76-75 win vs. Minnesota on June 10. She followed that performance up with her league-leading seventh double-double (21 points, 13 rebounds) of the season vs. Indiana on June 12, and a 25-point, eight rebound effort on 12-of-22 shooting at the New York Liberty.

Other candidates for WNBA Player of the Week were Cleveland�s Chasity Melvin, Connecticut�s Nykesha Sales, Detroit�s Swin Cash, Houston�s Tina Thompson, Indiana�s Natalie Williams, Minnesota�s Katie Smith, New York�s Becky Hammon, Phoenix�s Adrian Williams, Sacramento�s Tangela Smith, San Antonio�s Gwen Jackson, Seattle�s Lauren Jackson, and Washington�s Coco Miller.

Week Two: Storm's Jackson Named Player of the Week
Week One: Sparks' Leslie Named Player of the Week