Sparks' Legend Lisa Leslie Sounds Off on Controversial Drama From Coco Gauff's French Open Win
After U.S. tennis star Coco Gauff cemented a convincing 6-1, 6-2 French Open semifinal win over Lois Boisson on June 5, a plethora of celebrities within the world of sports chimed in with praise.
Former Los Angeles Sparks' legend Lisa Leslie commented under Gauff's Instagram post following the dominant victory, saying, "One more!!!!! Fight for your right to Partyyyyyy!!! You got this, champ!!!!!!”
Read more: Sparks' Cameron Brink Shares Unique Approach to Injury Recovery
🚨🤯 Sparks’ Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie SOUNDS OFF on recent Coco Gauff-Aryna Sabalenka drama following the French Open:
— LA Sports Report (@LA_SportsReport) June 16, 2025
“Sabalenka was so wrong … have some respect and lose with class,” she said on @WeNeedToTalk.
More: https://t.co/lZRiHmJaD1 pic.twitter.com/sQs2HM9zLx
Days later, the No. 2 seeded Gauff faced off against world-ranked No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final round — delivering on Leslie's request with a stunning comeback turned into a 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 tiebreak win, her first official title at Roland-Garros.
Certain comments from Sabalenka after the conclusion of the match — in relation to saying her personal unforced errors proved to be the deciding factor in the loss, not Gauff's performance — resulted in a myriad of drama and controversy.
"I think she won the match not because she played incredible. Just because I made all of those mistakes," Sabalenka said.
“Have some respect ... and lose with class.”@LisaLeslie sounded off on Aryna Sabalenka’s post-match comments about Coco Gauff. pic.twitter.com/8ykTzJ3JrC
— We Need To Talk (@WeNeedToTalk) June 12, 2025
On a recent edition of CBS Sports' "We Need To Talk," Leslie made her feelings on it known.
"[Gauff] worked so hard every single match to get to the finals, and I just love the fact that she not only has the will to win [but] the fight to win," Leslie said. "What I love also is how she just takes the high road no matter what.
Read more: Sparks' Kelsey Plum Bashes WNBA Refs in Wild Postgame Interview
"We all have heard the comments from Sabalenka — her negativity, talking about how ... Coco didn't beat her, that she lost the match because of her errors," she continued. "When you mess with the bull, you get the horn. Sabalenka was so wrong ... so every turn, [Gauff] has to face not just her opponent, but the ridicule from her colleagues."
After defending Gauff, Leslie then sent a direct message to Sabalenka about overall sportsmanship.
"You're playing against an American ... have some respect and lose with class," Leslie added. "And because Sabalenka didn't play her best, she decided to take the low road and ... criticize what Coco has accomplished."
Leslie, a Hall of Famer, had her No. 9 jersey retired in 2010 — one of two current Los Angeles players in the rafters.
More Sparks news:
A'ja Wilson Speaks Out on Losing Kelsey Plum to Sparks
Sparks' Kelsey Plum Reacts to Georgia Amoore's ACL Injury
International Legend Reveals Reason For Rejoining LA
Sparks Waive Two Players Ahead of 2025 Season
Sparks’ Cameron Brink Revisits Feeling After Tearing ACL
For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Sparks, visit Los Angeles Sparks on SI.
Ben Geffner is an award-winning sports journalist and current student at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. A greater Los Angeles native now with countless years of extensive and dedicated experience — including beat reporting, writing, play-by-play broadcast, television anchoring, podcasting and video production — Ben remains eager to contribute as credentialed media covering the LA Sparks.
Follow BenGeffner