Campus Life

The University of San Francisco’s Silk Speaker Series Welcomes Basketball Legends Lisa Leslie, Phil Jackson, and Bill Cartwright on October 21

SAN FRANCISCO (October 12, 2023) – The Silk Speaker Series at the University of San Francisco (USF) will present ‘Championing Excellence: A Dialogue with Basketball Legends Lisa Leslie, Phil Jackson, and Bill Cartwright’ on Saturday, October 21 from 11:15 to 12:15 a.m. at the Sobrato Center on the USF campus. The event is part of the university’s ‘CelebrateUSF’ weekend, and it is open to the public (registration is required).

Lisa Leslie, 4-time Olympic gold medalist, broadcaster, and author, Phil Jackson, 11-time NBA championship coach, and Bill Cartwright, USF men’s basketball alumnus, NBA player and coach, will discuss their basketball careers as well as their journeys through both challenges and successes.  

Funded by a transformational gift to USF by investment expert Jeff Silk ’87 and his wife, Naomi, the Silk Speaker Series at the University of San Francisco brings international thought leaders in business, finance and global issues to USF students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university. Now in its seventh year, the Silk Speaker Series has featured speakers including Robin Roberts of Good Morning America, NBA star Stephen Curry and Head Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, actor, writer and producer Kal Penn, soccer champion and equality activist Megan Rapinoe, tennis legend and equality champion Billie Jean King, 66th Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, NBA great Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr., and Former Chair of the Federal Reserve and recently appointed United States Treasury Secretary Dr. Janet L. Yellen.

Event Details:
Saturday, October 21, 2023 - 11:15 to 12:15 p.m.
In-person. Registration is required.
War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center on the University of San Francisco campus
2335 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco, CA 94118

About the University of San Francisco

The University of San Francisco is a private, Jesuit Catholic university that reflects the diversity, optimism, and opportunities of the city that surrounds it. USF offers more than 230 undergraduate, graduate, professional, and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, law, education, and nursing and health professions. At USF, each course is an intimate learning community in which top professors encourage students to turn learning into positive action, so the students graduate equipped to do well in the world — and inspired to change it for the better. For more information, visit usfca.edu.