SportsBasketball

Rogers dribbles dreams overseas

ULV women’s basketball star Leslee Rogers virtually eats, sleeps and breathes basketball, even off-season. She especially enjoys the cool ocean breeze while playing at the Laguna Beach basketball courts. / photo by Starr Carroll
ULV women’s basketball star Leslee Rogers virtually eats, sleeps and breathes basketball, even off-season. She especially enjoys the cool ocean breeze while playing at the Laguna Beach basketball courts. / photo by Starr Carroll

by Echelle Avelar
Staff Writer

Women’s basketball ended when the last basket was thrown. The court has been swept, cleaned and a new sport has come to season. But for the determined and self-motivated senior Leslee Rogers, the game is never over.

“Playing basketball was like a security for me. I felt comfortable playing basketball, I felt comfortable about myself, and it’s something I was good at. Without it, I felt something was lost,” she said.

Roger’s dream to one day become a professional women’s basketball player and to continue to keep herself in the game was seeded in high school.

“When I was in high school I found out a little bit about women going overseas and playing. I felt like, if basketball had to end sometime, hopefully, I could go over there and play. It’s been a dream of mine, forever. I can’t believe it’s actually going to happen, but I got offered to play in Denmark for eight months. I’m pretty excited.”

Rogers, majoring in criminology, plans to leave for Denmark July 27.

“Hopefully I’ll do well over there, stay healthy and get signed for another year. I want to keep playing as long as I can. It’s a good opportunity to see another world,” she said.

“It’s a goal I’ve actually reached, which makes it even better. A lot of people told me it would never happen.”

“I went to high school at La Mirada High. After my senior year I went to a junior college, after my freshman year I went to the University of Las Vegas, then came back, sat out a year, then came to the University of La Verne.”

Rogers came to La Verne after head basketball coach Julie Kline met with her and told her about the University.

“She basically talked me into coming here. I had never heard of the school or even the city of La Verne.”

Because of bad experiences she had, Rogers did not intend to play the game anymore.

“I told myself if I stopped having fun I’m going to stop playing,” she said. “The programs were weak and the coaches didn’t really care about winning; they cared about publicity, and they didn’t care about the individual. It’s like being used or taken advantage of, and all I wanted to do was play and have fun.”

Coming to La Verne offered Rogers a new outlook on the sport she used to love so much. Unlike the other schools that focused on winning and fame, ULV gave Rogers an opportunity to find her destiny.

“I told her about La Verne, took her on campus, showed her around. I think she wanted to hear that basketball would be fun again. She wanted to find a place to take care of her and help her grow,” said Kline.

“La Verne is probably the best thing that ever happened to me in my life. I think it was destined for me to come to La Verne,” Rogers said.

Shooting hoops with her two older brothers, Rogers hoped to one day be on the school team.

“I used to play out in the park with my brothers. I’m the only girl and the youngest. I used to play against them and hold my own,” she said. “I told my parents one day I was going to try out for basketball and my dad basically told me I was crazy. I tried out and made it. I found out that was something I had a little bit of talent in, so I pursued it.”

With little reinforcement coming from home, Rogers kept the dream of going pro in the back of her mind.

“I haven’t had a lot of positive influence in my life to play basketball. I’ve probably had more negative influence growing up, but I didn’t listen to them, of course. I really didn’t have a lot of encouragement. I got it from my inner-self, I encouraged myself. It’s what made me happy.”

Rogers’ encouragement did not only come from within, but also from the sidelines. Kline gave Rogers the drive for her to be the best she possible could.

“Julie was really a big help, she kept me focused. She helped me out by making me a better basketball player and that’s how I got offered. She pushed me to the limit, making me an all-around player. She’s been through all the ups and downs I’ve had here. She’s stuck by me through all the times. I owe her a great deal; she got me to play basketball again.”

Rogers hopes to be able to be that kind of positive influence on the lives of others and to keep basketball in her life, even in the years to come.

“In 10 years I see myself in the police force, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), and hopefully I’ll have my masters by then, but you never know what might happen. I might be teaching basketball. I really have an itch to coach at the high school level, but I want to do it all. I’ll end up coaching. I have to. I want to pass what I’ve learned on to someone else. I’d like to make a positive influence on someone’s life because I didn’t have a lot of positive influences.“

“We know she had the talent to go anywhere. There are no limits for Leslee. The limits one sets are determined by one’s self. I think she understands that now,” said Kline.

Echelle Avelar, Sports Editor
Echelle Avelar
Other Stories
Starr Carroll, Photography Editor
Starr Carroll
Other Stories
Previous article
Fellowship Church presents festival
Next article
Leopards split twinbill with Redlands

Latest Stories

Related articles

Basketball

Alyssa Smith overcomes injury and wins big

Alyssa Smith, junior guard for the La Verne women’s basketball team, has been awarded First Team All-SCIAC and Second Team All-Region for the 2025-2026 season, the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced.
Basketball

Women’s basketball loses final game

The Leopards lost to the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, 65-56, to finish their season at 6-19.
Basketball

Women’s basketball upsets first-place Regals

The women’s basketball team pulled off a 64-56 win against first-place Cal Lutheran on Wednesday at Frantz Athletic Court.
Basketball

Women’s basketball slams the Warriors

The Leopards bench is fired up during a great play against Nelson on Nov. 22 at Frantz Athletic Court. La Verne won in dominant fashion, 77-44.