Lisa Leslie, former Los Angeles Sparks three-time MVP and four-time Olympic gold medal winner, was in the stands Friday to watch one of her “best friends in the world” coach a women’s NCAA Tournament game.
It was the first time Leslie has watched South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, her teammate through four Olympic Games, coach in March Madness. The Gamecocks are in their 13th NCAA Tournament under Staley. On Friday, the reigning national champions beat No. 16 Tennessee Tech 108-48 in a first-round game.
“Why today? It just worked out. My kids are on spring break,” Leslie said.
Leslie attended a South Carolina game against Michigan in Las Vegas early this season, but being in Columbia for March Madness presented a different atmosphere.
“What she’s done for this program,” Leslie told USA TODAY Sports, “obviously, this community, and built this up, and what the impact she’s had on women’s basketball worldwide, and through the Olympics, you know, being one of my teammates and then becoming a coach, she’s outstanding.”
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Leslie and Staley went 60-0 together while part of the U.S. Olympic team from 1996-2008. They learned a lot about each other and created lifelong friendships.
“You get to know a person,” Leslie said, “the kind of person that they are, how they show up, you know a person during tough times because it was tough, and you helped each other through that. So it really is like a family of sisterhood in a way.”
This sisterhood spans generations, and it is one that isn’t lost on Leslie.
“There’s been so many women that have come before, and I love that Dawn never forgets that,” Leslie said.
Leslie delivered a final message to Staley as she left after Friday’s game: “Keep doing what you’re doing. She’s great. She’s amazing. Bettering women.”
