WNBA: LESLIE NAMED MVP THIRD AWARD FOR SPARKS CENTER.Byline: RAMONA SHELBURNE Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. Staff Writer Lisa Leslie The Sparks' center was an overwhelming choice as the 2006 WNBA WNBA Women's National Basketball Association WNBA World Ninepin Bowling Association WNBA Wannabe Nasty Boys Association WNBA Women's National Book Association, Inc. WNBA Warszawski Nurt Basketu Amatorskiego MVP, which was announced Sunday afternoon before Game 3 of the WNBA Finals between Sacramento and Detroit. She received 508 points and 40 first-place votes, more than doubling the total of second-place finisher Diana Taurasi Diana Lurena Taurasi (born June 11, 1982 in Chino, California) is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). (211) of the Phoenix Mercury. ``I came into this year really in shape and on top of my game,'' said Leslie, who averaged a career-high 20.0 points and 3.2 assists this year. ``I was hoping to be able to play at the same speed as (young players like Taurasi, Cappie Pondexter and Seimone Augustus). It's just amazing for us veterans, so to speak, to continue to play at a high level every day consistently, and that's just what I tried to do.'' What made Leslie's award all the more impressive was that she had one of her worst years as a professional in an injury-plagued 2005, with career lows in points (15.2) and rebounding (7.3). After the season, her uncle, Craig Simpson, told her that if she had another year like that, she should retire. That was all the motivation Leslie, 34, needed. She went to Moscow to play in the offseason and work on her game. The results spoke for themselves Sunday afternoon. After the awards presentation, Leslie told ESPN.com that she was withdrawing from this month's FIBA FIBA Fédération Internationale de Basketball (International Basketball Federation) FIBA Florida International Bankers Association FIBA Fédération Internationale de Boxe Amateur FIBA Financial Institution Benefit Association, Inc. World Championships in Brazil due to family issues. According to a Sparks' spokesperson, Leslie has been spending time with Simpson as he recovers from a recent car accident. Leslie and her uncle are very close. He walked her down the aisle at her marriage to Michael Lockwood last November. ``I never put a timeline on basketball and what I can do,'' Leslie said. ``I just take care of my body. I have to do a lot to stay strong. I enjoy playing basketball. So I'm not sure when I'm going to stop playing, but I'll let you know.'' ramona.shelburne@dailynews.com (818) 713-3617 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The Sparks' Lisa Leslie poses with the her third WNBA MVP trophy. Noah Graham/Getty Images |
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