A WNBA first: Dunks aren't just a guy thing

"I feel really good about it," Leslie said, beaming in the locker room Tuesday night. "There has been a lot of pressure around it. I finally had the opportunity. I turned around and noticed I was all alone. I thought today would be a great time to try. It was a good dunk. I thought it was hard enough.... It was valid."

Leslie's first-ever dunk in a game came with a perfect pass, a running start, and no opponent in front of her.

"A woman, even if she is tall and coordinated, has to have just the right footing and momentum to make it," says Leitao. She notes that Houston's Michelle Snow dunks frequently in warmup but has yet to find the right conditions in a game. Women have dunked in college games and all-star contests, and even tried in the pros ... without success.

"The lack of all the right factors coming together at once is why we've never seen it happen in league competition," Leitao says. Until now.

The dunk comes at an auspicious time for both Leslie and the WNBA. After brisk ticket sales in the league's first three years, attendance dropped last year and has not reached previous peaks yet this year – now averaging about 8,700 per game across the league. In spite of the passage of Title IX in 1972 requiring parity in men's and women's athletic programs at publically funded schools, professional female sports leagues have struggled to take hold.

It was not until 1977, when the NBA threw its muscle and money behind the WNBA, that it took hold in 16 cities.

Leslie is just the kind of property owners say they need to increase attendance.

As in other sports, including golf and tennis, professional leagues have mounted formal campaigns highlighting stars, such as Leslie, who they feel are both feminine and dominant athletes to attract male audiences.

Stars such as Leslie, the Houston Comet's Sheryl Swoops, and Seattle Storm's Sue Bird, are shown in WNBA TV promotions in midriff-baring tops and gowns, and tighter fitting clothing.

Leslie herself is considered one of the WNBA's biggest draws for prowess on the court and for looks off the court. Now 30, she was born and raised in the 'hoods of South-Central Los Angeles and became a star for the University of Southern California Lady Trojans. She played one season in Italy before joining the Sparks in 1997, leading them to the league championship last year.

She signed a modeling contract with the Wilhelmina agency in 1996 and has modeled designs by Armani, Tommy Hilfiger, and Anne Klein. But beauty aside, Leslie's main appeal is as good ol' fashioned sports heroine, others say.

"Lisa is the best!," says 10-year-old Shanice Fowler, as she hangs over a bleacher bannister to catch a glimpse of Leslie exiting the court. "She makes me want to play sports and be my best!"

Michael Cooper, former Laker great and now the Sparks head coach, showed that even a stoic old trouper from the men's league could be impressed along with everyone else.

"I was excited," Mr. Coop said. "I was jumping up and down on the bench."

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