FOR LESLIE, ONLY A TITLE WILL SUFFICE.

Byline: Pamela Lewis Staff Writer

Growing up in Inglewood following the hometown Lakers, Lisa Leslie learned to expect excellence. As one of the WNBA's top players in the league's five-year history and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, she still does.

Only now, she expects it from her team. And herself.

The Sparks have the WNBA's best record (28-4) and Leslie is considered a lock for the league MVP, which will be awarded next week. The team will open the playoffs Saturday at four-time WNBA champion Houston, which has eliminated the Sparks the past two years.

``As winners we strive for excellence,'' said Leslie, a 6-foot-5 center. ``That's just the way it is around here, L.A. The franchise is from the Lakers, groomed in winning and it carries over to the Sparks. That's all I know is winning and that's all I want to know. Not just winning a lot of games but winning the championship.''

But this might be the first time Leslie's expectations are shared by all her teammates and many who follow the WNBA.

In five seasons, Leslie and the Sparks have had four coaches and the team has underachieved. The Sparks finally had a winning record and made their first playoff appearance two years ago. The next season, Michael Cooper was named the head coach and L.A. has steadily improved.

``It's been a long haul,'' Leslie said. ``I used to be tired. All the stuff I've been through, trying to work hard, having pressure of trying to win championships, feeling like our team just wasn't really ready. When we get to that point (the playoffs), we would go one on one, or not really execute offensively or share the basketball. There was just like a lot of obstacles.''

But this season has been different. The Sparks set the WNBA record for consecutive victories (18) and were undefeated at home (16-0). And Leslie is the primary reason why the Sparks are favored to win their first league title.

She's second second in the league in points (19.5), third in rebounds (9.6), second in blocks (2.29) and third in double-doubles (16). Leslie also added a respectable long-range game (37 percent on 3-pointers).

Still, Leslie has worked on her game while waiting for the playoffs to start because she wasn't happy with her play at the end of the season. She averaged just 10.6 points in the team's final three games.

But Cooper isn't worried.

``We've asked a lot of her as a player, to do a lot for our team, carry the team on her shoulders,'' he said. ``Fatigue might have caught up with her a little bit, but we've been talking, her and I. She knows what she has to do.''