Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - After dropping a franchise-record six in a row, the Los Angeles Sparks are in dire need of Lisa Leslie's return from her season-long maternity leave. Leslie's return to the WNBA is still up in the air as she recovers from giving birth to her first child three weeks ago.

The three-time MVP and Los Angeles Sparks star hasn't played all season and the team has struggled to adapt without her.

"I just don't know what I'm capable of because I didn't know I was going to have a caesarian versus a natural birth," Leslie said as she attended Wednesday night's ESPY Awards. "I'm not in shape at all, so to go from zero to trying to play real basketball, I have no idea."

Leslie added that she expects to receive clearance from her doctors in the coming weeks so that she can begin working out with her team.

Leslie said she was surprised at how much energy her maternal duties take out of her each day.

"The nights are probably the most difficult time. I didn't realize I have to wake up at 12, and 3 and 6 to feed my baby," she said.

"Some days I'm able to get naps. They say sleep when she sleeps, but that's a little difficult, too, because I hear her moving and I'm always checking on her."

The Sparks are just 7-12 on the season. At the start of the season, All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw shocked the team by suddenly retiring.

Holdsclaw called Leslie to notify the star of her decision.

"I was shocked," said Leslie. "I didn't try to talk her out of it. I don't know what's going on in her world. Maybe that's what she needed, maybe she's on edge."

The Sparks registered a franchise-low 47 points and shot a season-worst 30 percent in their loss against the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night.

Leslie has helped make the Sparks a league powerhouse since 1997.

"The one thing I've always been afraid of is the Sparks losing their edge because that was hard to build and it's hard to regain," she said. "That's probably the thing I've been most disappointed about is that we just go down in flames. I'm not saying my teammates aren't trying. I'm sure they're doing their best, but I know we can do better."