Bold claim: Lisa Leslie is reshaping how the next generation learns, mentors, and believes in their own potential—and she’s doing it beyond the broadcasting booth. And this is the part people often miss: her impact goes far deeper than commentating a game.
Lisa Leslie, who proudly calls herself an auntie to the sport’s younger players, is in her second season as a color commentator for Unrivaled’s broadcast team. A Naismith Hall of Famer and a basketball icon, she has a front-row seat to the sport’s ongoing evolution and a sense of gratitude for being part of it. “I feel really blessed to sit there and contribute my small piece and watch these women progress,” she says. But her influence during this Unrivaled season extends far beyond the mic.
As athletes enjoy the league’s top-tier facilities—weight rooms, saunas, on-site estheticians—one of the sport’s most sought-after offerings has been Leslie’s one-on-one mentorship. Over the season, she has shared guidance with frontcourt players such as Cameron Brink, Dominique Malonga, Ezi Magbegor, and Monique Billings. She’s also expressed interest in working with Shakira Austin (whom she advised in Unrivaled’s inaugural season) and Kiki Iriafen, who has shown enthusiasm for training alongside her.
“I want to make sure that as a role model, I’m giving back, paying it forward, and serving these players. We owe that to the game,” Leslie emphasizes, noting she’ll also be on-call for Unrivaled’s championship game on Wednesday.
A standout moment came when Billings, during the first week of Leslie’s Miami visit, asked for 3-on-3 pointers. Leslie didn’t sugarcoat it: take her number, and they’d train in the gym. “Okay, say less. We got to work the following week,” Billings recalls.
Leslie’s 3-on-3 experience predates this season. Though she didn’t compete in a formal league, she notes teams she played with used 3-on-3 as intense conditioning—almost a rigorous supplement rather than a primary format. She even recalls practicing 3-on-3 in Nike’s famous 1995 commercial with Dawn Staley and Sheryl Swoopes, directed by Spike Lee, underscoring how deeply the format runs in her basketball memory.
Billings, 29, grew up in Riverside, California, idolizing Leslie as a kid and faithfully collecting autographs during Leslie’s WNBA era. Now sharing the floor with the legend feels almost surreal for her: “The way she pours into me and into us is incredible. Nine-year-old me would freak out.”
Before Billings’ first Unrivaled season, Leslie issued a clear challenge: aim for a double-double. “At least double-digit rebounds,” Billings remembers, with Leslie pushing for measurable, bite-sized goals: “Break it down into three rebounds a quarter if you can.” Billings finished her debut season averaging 14.2 points and 10.9 rebounds over 14 games for Hive Basketball Club.
Leslie’s mentorship this year extends the work she started in Unrivaled’s inaugural season, when she guided players like Shakira Austin and Angel Reese. “With Angel, she wanted to get better, and I helped her,” Leslie says. It’s the type of player who shows up—texts, calls, eagerness to do more—that Leslie sees as the heart of growth.
During one Breeze Basketball Club practice, Malonga—a 6-foot-6 post from France—turned her head when Leslie walked in. Malonga has long studied Leslie as a model for post development. “And of course, she’s a dunker,” Malonga notes. After practice, Leslie invited Malonga and teammate Cameron Brink to train with her, a gesture that Malonga says has accelerated her progress.
Leslie’s coaching isn’t limited to technique. She emphasizes high basketball IQ and a strong mental game. Describing Malonga as “high IQ,” Leslie notes they’ve worked on roughly ten areas, and Malonga has checked every box. The dunking mindset is central for Malonga, who says Leslie’s guidance makes her jump higher and feel unstoppable at the rim. “Nobody can block me up there,” she adds, attributing that confidence to Leslie’s influence.
Both Billings and Malonga describe Leslie’s presence as on-court intentional and commanding. Billings appreciates that she doesn’t need to preach to make her point: her aura and decisiveness convey a lot. Beyond X’s and O’s, Leslie prioritizes mental resilience and spiritual strength, helping players navigate the pressures they face.
Her protégés attest that Leslie has nurtured belief in themselves. When Billings enjoyed a stretch of double-doubles, Leslie offered praise that Billings took to heart: “That’s because of you. You sparked something in me.” Leslie’s message is simple: you already have everything you need; all that’s left is to show up with curiosity and courage.
Leslie frames mentoring as a continuation of a basketball lineage. She looks to legends like Cheryl Miller, Ann Meyers, Nancy Lieberman, and later generations—Dawn Staley, Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper—who pushed the game forward and passed the torch. Today’s players, she says, understand the past and are building toward the future for the next generation of young girls watching now.
Billings and Malonga now view Leslie as a trusted mentor who remains accessible for advice beyond basketball. “Sometimes life is life-ing,” Leslie notes, reminding them that she’s a safe space to talk through personal challenges as well.
For Billings, the chance to learn from a trailblazer who shaped the sport is an extraordinary privilege and a source of enduring pride. “It’s a blessing, a privilege—things I never imagined,” she says, still awed by the same legend who inspired her as a child.
If you’re curious about the broader impact here: Is mentorship like Leslie’s essential for elevating women’s basketball, or should players seek mentorship more selectively? What do you think about the balance between high-level performance coaching and personal guidance in athletes’ development? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Sean Hurd is a senior writer for Andscape who covers women’s basketball. His own athletic peak came at age 10 when he was named camper of the week at a Josh Childress basketball camp.
