Golden Moment: Seimone Augustus’ Legacy Cast in Bronze as LSU Unveils First Statue Honoring a Female Athlete
By William Weathers – May 27, 2025
Baton Rouge, LA — Under the gleaming Louisiana sun and in front of a crowd filled with pride, tears, and admiration, Seimone Augustus — a trailblazer, champion, and icon — received the highest honor Louisiana State University can bestow on one of its own. With the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue outside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Augustus made history once again — becoming LSU’s first female athlete to be immortalized in statue form.
The golden moment symbolized not only Augustus’ individual greatness but a pivotal cultural milestone for LSU Athletics and women’s sports as a whole.
“This is bigger than me,” Augustus said, standing before her likeness. “This is for every little girl who dared to dream, for every woman who gave her all without expecting anything back. Today, LSU showed that we matter just as much — that our legacy deserves to be remembered in bronze too.”
A Career That Demanded Recognition
Augustus, a Baton Rouge native and graduate of Capitol High School, left an indelible mark on LSU and the sport of basketball. During her collegiate career from 2002 to 2006, she led the Lady Tigers to three consecutive Final Four appearances, earned back-to-back National Player of the Year awards, and became one of the most decorated players in women’s college basketball history.
She finished her LSU career with 2,702 points, a model of consistency and brilliance, earning praise for her silky jump shot, fierce competitiveness, and grace under pressure.
After LSU, Augustus carried her excellence into the WNBA, where she became a four-time champion with the Minnesota Lynx, an eight-time All-Star, and an Olympic gold medalist.
A Statue Years in the Making
The 7-foot bronze statue, sculpted by world-renowned artist Brian Hanlon, captures Augustus in her signature mid-range shooting form — a pose that terrified defenders and delighted LSU fans for years. It now stands tall alongside the greats of LSU history, including Shaquille O’Neal, Pete Maravich, and Bob Pettit — making her the first woman and the first Black female athlete in LSU history to be honored in this way.
LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward called the statue “a long-overdue recognition for one of the greatest athletes this university — and this country — has ever seen.”
Community Celebration and Cultural Impact
Hundreds of fans, former teammates, current LSU athletes, and dignitaries gathered for the unveiling ceremony. Among the attendees were WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert and LSU Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kim Mulkey, who praised Augustus not just as a player but as a powerful voice for equity, justice, and representation.
“Seimone showed us all what excellence looks like,” Mulkey said. “But more importantly, she showed us what leadership looks like — what courage looks like. This statue will inspire generations.”
Looking Ahead
With LSU women’s basketball experiencing a renaissance in recent years, the honoring of Seimone Augustus marks both a celebration of the past and a beacon for the future. Young athletes passing through the Assembly Center will now look up and see not just greatness, but representation — a symbol that they, too, can build legacies worth casting in bronze.
As Augustus looked upon the statue, tears welled in her eyes.
“Statues are for legends. And today,” she said, voice cracking, “I stand here humbled, proud, and forever grateful.”