Lisa Leslie, one of the greatest players in WNBA history, has been making headlines lately, but not for her legendary accomplishments on the court. Instead, Leslie has been making waves for not being given the opportunity to showcase her skills as a head coach in the WNBA.
As the 2025 WNBA season approaches, many new coaches have been announced, but Leslie’s name has been noticeably absent from the list. This has caused many in the basketball community to question why she has been overlooked and dubbed her as the biggest coaching snub in WNBA history.
It’s truly wild that no team has locked in Leslie as their head coach yet. This is a woman who has proven herself time and time again as a leader and a winner. As a player, she helped lead the Los Angeles Sparks to two WNBA championships and was a three-time MVP. She was also a four-time Olympic gold medalist and the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. With such an impressive resume, it’s hard to imagine why Leslie has yet to be given a chance to coach in the WNBA.
The 2025 coaching list is filled with diverse experiences, with seven of the eight new hires never having held a head coaching job in the WNBA. While this is a positive step in terms of bringing new voices and perspectives to the league, it’s surprising that Leslie, with her wealth of experience, has been overlooked.
Many of the new coaches come from college or assistant coaching roles, while others have international backgrounds. But Leslie’s credentials surpass them all. She has been a head coach in the BIG3 league and has also served as an assistant coach for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. This shows that she not only has the basketball knowledge and experience but also the necessary leadership and communication skills to be a successful head coach.
So, why hasn’t Leslie been given the chance to showcase her talents in the WNBA? Some may argue that her lack of experience as a head coach in the league is a factor, but this argument falls flat when you consider that other coaches on the list also lack this experience. Others may suggest that her gender is a hindrance, but the WNBA has shown time and time again that it values diversity and is committed to empowering women in the sport.
The only plausible explanation for Leslie’s snub is that teams are simply not recognizing her potential and overlooking her for other candidates. But with Leslie’s proven track record of success and her relentless drive and passion for the game, she deserves a chance to lead a team in the WNBA.
The recent release of the new basketball video game, ‘Unrivaled’, has only added fuel to the fire of Leslie’s snub. One of the featured players in the game is Angel Reese, who received some bold criticism from Leslie regarding her game. Leslie noted that Reese needed to improve her shooting and ball-handling skills to excel in the WNBA. And true to Leslie’s words, Reese’s virtual character in ‘Unrivaled’ has shown significant improvement in these areas. This has only further highlighted Leslie’s keen eye for talent and her ability to provide constructive criticism and guidance.
It’s clear that Leslie’s impact in the basketball world extends far beyond her playing days. She continues to inspire and motivate players, both on and off the court, and her passion for the game is unwavering. It’s a shame that she has yet to be given the opportunity to bring her leadership and coaching skills to the WNBA.
In conclusion, it’s time for teams in the WNBA to recognize the coaching talent that Lisa Leslie possesses and give her the chance she deserves. She has proven herself as a champion, a leader, and a pioneer in women’s basketball, and it’s time for her to add head coach to her list of accomplishments. Leslie might be the biggest coaching snub in WNBA history, but it’s not too late for a team to lock her in and watch her lead them to success. As the saying goes, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” and it’s time for the WNBA to take a shot with Lisa Leslie.
