Although it was the Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Garnett who graced the cover of the first Backyard Basketball, Leslie was part of the game, and you could even play as her or Garnett.

Houston Comets stars Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes both missed the 2001 WNBA season. Cooper was a two-time MVP and four-time champion, decided to retire following the season of 2000. He came back in 2003.

Swoopes played in the four championships as well as the league's reigning MVP. She was unable to return in 2001 due to her torn anterior cruciate ligament. After helping the Sparks claim their first championship in September of 2001.

Leslie won not only the 2001 MVP award but she also was named the Finals MVP. Backyard Basketball was released one month later and featured Leslie as the only female real-life player (Garnett was only a men's player).

Cooper and Swoopes were the first to be acknowledged as the WNBA's actual faces, but it was Leslie who was the first player to be recognized as the league's official face to Backyard Basketball's primary audience including me. Leslie was the first WNBA player I heard about and introduced me to women's basketball.

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