Smithfield, RI - Lisa Leslie, the most recognized player of the WNBA and Team USA, will headline Bryant University's 27th annual Women's Summit® on March 14, 2024.
Throughout her legendary athletic career, Leslie has been the most dominant player in women's basketball history. She 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 medals.
A player for the Los Angeles Sparks from 1997 to 2009, Leslie's accomplishments in the WNBA include being the first player to receive the regular season MVP, the All-Star Game MVP, and the playoff MVP in the same season. In 2001, that same year, she led the Sparks to their first WNBA championship. The following year, the Sparks achieved their first back-to-back championship, and Leslie stunned the world when she became the first woman to slam dunk in a professional game.
Since retiring from basketball in 2009, Leslie has enjoyed success as a published author and entrepreneur, most recently as the co-founder of the luxury real estate firm Aston Rose. She is a commentator for ESPN, an in-studio sports analyst, and the co-host of CBS Sports' "We Need To Talk." In 2010, she became the first WNBA player turned co-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks, and in 2021, she was fifth on ESPN.com's list of the WNBA's greatest players of all time.
"We are delighted to welcome a basketball legend to Bryant," says Inge-Lise Ameer, Ed.D., Executive Director of the Women's Summit® and Bryant's Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean of Students, and Chief Diversity Officer. "We are eager to learn about the many facets of Lisa's career and are certain that the lessons from her experience as an athlete, businesswoman, model, and advocate for gender equity and equal pay will touch and inspire our audience."
Susan Packard and Meridith Webster will also deliver keynote addresses at the Women’s Summit®. In addition, attendees will choose from sixteen breakout sessions led by accomplished speakers who will explore how the values, vision, mission, and strengths of individuals and organizations can collaborate to achieve collective success in an evolving workplace.
Established in 1997, Bryant University's Women's Summit® is the largest and longest-running leadership conference for women in Rhode Island and the region. With a mission of educating women, the Summit provides women with strategies to advance professionally, develop personally, and be empowered financially. This year's Summit, Passion, Purpose, Power, Possibility, will take place on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Bryant University.
Visit the Women's Summit website for more information.
