Sheryl Swoopes and Cynthia Cooper, Houston Comets stars, were not present during the 2001 WNBA season. Cooper retired after the 2000 season, as a two-time MVP and NBA 2K22 MT four-time champion. She then returned in 2003. Swoopes was also part of the four championships, and was the league’s reigning MVP. She was not able to return in 2001 due to her torn anterior cruciate ligament. Leslie was not the only one to win the MVP award of 2001, she also took home the Finals MVP after helping the Sparks to win their first title on Sept. 1. Then, just one month later Backyard Basketball was released with her being the sole woman in the real world (Garnett was the only male player) instead of Cooper and Swoopes.

Cooper and Swoopes are thought to be the first real faces of the WNBA however it was Leslie who became the first name of the league to the the kids Backyard Basketball was geared towards, including me. Leslie was the very first WNBA player I heard of and got me into women's basketball.

My commitment to the sport gradually increased from there. I can remember Diana Taurasi being featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated alongside Emeka Okafor after their UConn Huskies won the national championship in both men's basketball and women's basketball in 2004. I was then an avid Sacramento Monarchs fan and watched them play in the 2006 WNBA Finals against the Detroit Shock. Since watching Parker perform in the national championships won by the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, I've been fascinated by basketball for Buy MT 2K22 women. I started following the WNBA in the year 2012.