Sports Envoy
Sports Envoy Program

Sport: Basketball

Lisa Leslie

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2023  –  Cote d'Ivoire

When the “face” of your sport is a Wilhelmina model, you know you’re off to a good start. Lisa Leslie is undoubtedly the most-recognized player of both the WNBA and Team USA, who brought considerably more than a stunning visage and statuesque body to the court. Throughout her storied career Leslie was the absolute most dominant player in the women’s game.


Leslie carried the gold-winning Team USA in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. With the 2008 gold medal, she became the first team sport athlete to win four consecutive Olympic Gold Medals. In 2001, Leslie was the first WNBA
player to win the regular season MVP, the All-Star Game MVP and the playoff MVP in the same season. That same year she also led the Los Angeles Sparks to their first WNBA Championship. In 2002, she became the WNBA all-time
leading scorer, was named MVP of the regular season for the second year in a row in leading the Sparks to their first their first back-to-back championship, and shocked the world with the first slam-dunk in WNBA history.
Leslie would go on to win her third MVP trophy of the WNBA in 2006. Leslie is the first woman to slam-dunk in a professional game. Leslie was inducted into both the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and the
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2015.

Leslie became a commentator for ESPN in 2004, and has since been an in-studio sports analyst for ABC, Turner, Fox Sports Net, Fox Florida, and NBC. She is currently a co-host of CBS Sports’ “We Need To Talk”, and the
reigning Coach of the Year of the BIG3. Lisa also starred in the Lionsgate film “Uncle Drew” alongside NBA superstar Kyrie Irving and NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal and Reggie Miller, released in June 2018.

Leslie authored her own book “Don’t Let the Lipstick Fool You” in 2008, and in 2010 became the first WNBA player turned Co-Owner of the Los Angeles Sparks. In 2012, she both received her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and launched the Lisa Leslie Basketball & Leadership Academy.

Leslie resides with her husband, Michael Lockwood, and two kids Lauren Jolie and Michael Joseph, in Boca Raton, Florida.

Sylvia Fowles

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2023  –  Ethiopia

Sylvia Fowles, or “Mama Syl,” as she is endeared by many, is a WNBA MVP, 2x WNBA Champion and Finals MVP, 4x Defensive Player of the Year, 8x WNBA All Star, 4x Olympic Gold Medalist, and icon; she owns the record for the first goaltending call in the WNBA and First Dunk by a woman in international competition, as well as a lengthy list of athletic accolades. But post-2022 retirement, she continues to pour into extracurricular passions and philanthropy.

Sylvia Fowles is one of the game’s All-Time Great centers, well known for her warmth and heart. Loved and respected by all, she is a study in opposites – a balance of intensity on the court with an easygoing and fun-loving personality off of it. She is an avid outdoorswoman and plant lover, as well as a mortuary scientist who can sew, cook, draw, and play the saxophone. A true renaissance woman, she works hard to support the youth and families in the communities she loves—a mark of her giving heart and lasting legacy.

Crystal Langhorne

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2023  –  Indonesia

Crystal Langhorne is the Director of Force4Change, the Seattle Storm’s social justice platform. Crystal’s passion for social justice is the driving force that helps her create impact in the community. Prior to working at the Storm’s front office, Crystal was a player in the WNBA for 13 years and won two championships with Seattle. She also won a NCAA championship with the University of Maryland women’s basketball team. She holds a degree in Communication from UMD and her DEI certification from Cornell University.

Isaiah Austin

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2023  –  Serbia

Former McDonald’s All American and Professional basketball player who now works with the NBA in Player Development.

Kia Vaughn

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2023  –  Czech Republic

Kia Vaughn, newly retired WNBA player. Played 14 seasons in the WNBA. Also played 13 seasons in Europe, where I won a Euroleague title in Prague. Played for Usk Praha for 5 seasons and was also the MVP of that Euroleague title.

Danielle Robinson

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2023  –  Czech Republic

Born in San Jose, CA Danielle has enjoyed a lengthy career in both the WNBA and Europe. Heading into her 12th season in the W, she is really looking forward to being a part of the Atlanta Dream and helping the organization continue to grow. She has traveled and played all around the world with Prague being her favorite stop of her time overseas. I’m her 3 years in Prague she won the Euroleague title in 2015, a memory her mom was able to experience with her. She’s so thankful for all that the game has given her and is even more excited to be able to share it with the next generation!

Alysha Clark

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Tanzania

Alysha Angelica Clark is an American-Israeli professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics of the Women’s National Basketball Association. She was drafted in the second round of the 2010 WNBA draft by the San Antonio Silver Stars.

Azurá Stevens

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Mexico

Azurá Breeona Stevens is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Stevens played collegiately for the Duke Blue Devils
and the Connecticut Huskies. She was drafted with the 6th overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft by the Dallas Wings.

Monique Billings

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Mexico

Fashion-forward, athletic, cultured, and full of personality. all of these traits describe WNBA player Monique Billings. Born May 2nd, Billings was drafted into the 2018 WNBA draft class. Being afforded the opportunity to do what she loves in playing basketball, traveling the world, Broadcasting, and inspiring others, Billings takes advantage of every opportunity that is presented to her. always looking to inspire and empower others, Monique Billings aims to be a voice and light For women and girls trying to figure out life just like she is.

Imani McGee-Stafford

Basketball

Served as envoy

  • 2022  –  Singapore

Imani McGee-Stafford is a WNBA player, abuse survivor, mental health advocate, and poet. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Accounting from The McCombs School of Business.
At Texas, she left her name in the record books becoming the first UT women’s basketball player to garner over 1000 points, 1000 rebounds and 200 blocks. She was drafted 10th overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft to the Chicago Sky and has since played for the Atlanta Dream and Dallas Wings. She has also played professionally overseas in Turkey, China, Israel, Australia, and Lebanon.

While her 6’7” frame made her presence felt on the court, she left her biggest impact off the court when she chose to speak out about her struggles with mental health and overcoming her abusive childhood on SportsCenter in a segment called SC Featured: Her Voice.

In college, she stumbled across her life purpose: providing a voice to the silenced. She now takes every opportunity she can to live in her truth and hopefully provide light to those going through or who have been through the same struggles.

In the spring of 2020, she announced that she is stepping away for the next two WNBA seasons to pursue a Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.