LOS ANGELES -- Lisa Leslie, the WNBA's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, has signed a new contract with the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Sparks.

"I would play basketball for free,'' Leslie said Thursday after the team opened training camp at Loyola Marymount. "I'm just happy that we do get paid to play this game. It's a wonderful opportunity for me to represent the L.A. Sparks, this community I've grown up in and that's what I take more pride in.''

Leslie, a graduate of the University of Southern California, said this generation of players is "paving the way for young girls'' 10-to-20 years from now to "make the big dollars.''

"Right now, I'm just happy to be here,'' Leslie said.

Under terms of the league's new collective bargaining agreement, Leslie and all other players with six years of service become restricted free agents, with their teams able to retain their services by matching any offer.

Teams also can protect two players as "core players,'' who would receive the maximum $85,000 salary.

The Los Angeles Times reported Leslie signed a four-year contract at the league maximum of $85,000 per season. Neither she nor a team spokeswoman would confirm the terms of the contact.

The Sparks also announced Thursday they had re-signed three of their other four restricted free agents: swing players Latasha Byears and Mwadi Mabika and guard Tamecka Dixon. The fourth restricted free agent, guard Sophia Witherspoon, is not expected to be re-signed.

Mabika, forward DeLisha Milton and forward-center Erika Desouza all missed Thursday's opening practice due to commitments with their European teams. All three players are expected to report to the Sparks before their May 10 exhibition opener against the San Antonio Silver Stars at Long Beach State's Pyramid, the spokeswoman said.

Guard Jackie Stiles, the 2001 WNBA Rookie of the Year chosen in last week's dispersal draft, is expected to miss the first few practices as she recovers from foot surgery, coach Michael Cooper said.