The Los Angeles Sparks selected her in the 1997 WNBA Allocation Draft on January 22, 1997. On April 23, 2007, he signed a multi-year contract with the Los Angeles Sparks. In 2008, she helped the team win its first championship. Leslie played for the University of Connecticut from 1995 to 1998, where she led the Huskies to two NCAA Tournaments as a sophomore and senior. As a sophomore, she averaged 14.4 points per game and earned First Team All-America honors. As a senior, she averaged 21.1 points per game and was named the WBCA Player of the Year. She finished her UConn career as one of only four players in program history with at least 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. After graduating from UConn, Leslie entered the 1998 WNBA Draft and was selected second overall by the Charlotte Sting. However, she refused to play for Charlotte and was traded to the San Antonio Silver Stars along with the third pick in the draft (also taken by the Sting) in exchange for the sixth pick and the right to swap first and second picks. The Silver Stars used the first pick to select Sheryl Swoopes of Texas A&M and traded the second pick and cash to the Detroit Shock for the fifth pick and a future first-round selection (which they later used on Rosie Lopez of Louisville).