Nancy Lieberman

Full Name: Nancy Illizabeth Lieberman
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 5-10/150
Born: 07/01/58 (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
College: Old Dominion '80

WNBA CAREER AVERAGES
2.6 ppg | 1.3 rpg | 1.6 apg



Complete WNBA Statistics


CAREER AVERAGES
�YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
1997PHO25011.2.325.231.800.201.001.301.6.60.081.561.402.6

CAREER TOTALS
YEARTEAMMINFGM-AFTM-A3POFFDEFTOTASTSTLBLKTOPFPTS
1997PHO279 25-778-106-266263240152393464

WNBA Notes


Transactions: Selected by the Phoenix Mercury in the second round (15th overall) in the WNBA Elite Draft, Feb. 27, 1997.

Played one year in the WNBA for the Phoenix Mercury ... Later served as coach of the Detroit Shock.

Bio



Professional Experience: The WNBA was the fourth professional basketball league for Lieberman, who began her professional career in 1980 as a member of the WBL's Dallas Diamonds ... Was the first player drafted in the WBL's second season of play ... Led the team in scoring and guided the Diamonds to the 1981 WBL championship series, which they lost to the Nebraska Wranglers ... Player for the Dallas Diamonds of the WABA during its brief 1984 season and led the Diamonds to victory in the league championship over Chicago ... Leading scorer for the Diamonds in 1984 ... In 1986, became the first woman ever to play in a men's professional league when she joined the USBL's Springfield Fame ... Was coached by former NBA guard Henry Bibby ... Played in the USBL for two years (1986 and 1987), second season as a member of the Long Island Knights ... Coached by another former NBA player, Dean Meminger ... Also a member of the Washington Generals (1987-88)

College: Holds the distinction of being the only athlete to receive the Wade Trophy twice ... Storied career at ODU also includes the following honors: All-American 1978-80; ODU Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year in 1977-80; and recipient of the Broderick Cup in 1979 and 1980 ... Led ODU to two AIAW championships (1979, 1980) ... Finished collegiate career with 2,430 points, 1,167 rebounds and 983 assists in 134 games.

Personal: Nicknamed "Lady Magic" for her passing prowess ... As a teenager, would take the "A" train from Far Rockaway to Harlem, to hone her skills by playing in pick-up games with New York's best ... Competitors included Brian Winters (Milwaukee Bucks), Dean Meminger (New York Knicks), Levern Tart (ABA) ... Returned to the courts of Harlem throughout college and played in summer leagues ... Has written a book with Robin Roberts, titled "Basketball for Women: Becoming a Complete Player," published in 1996 ... Also has an autobiography, published in 1992, called "Lady Magic" ... Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996 ... At 18, became the youngest basketball player in Olympic history to win a medal as a member of the 1976 Women's Olympic Basketball Team that won silver in Montreal ... Also a member of World Championship teams (1975, 1979 gold medal); Pan Am Games teams (1975 gold medal, 1979 silver medal); the Junior National Team (1977); and the Jones Cup team (1979) ... Women's basketball analyst for NBC during 1988 and 1992 Olympics ... Broadcaster for ESPN, ABC, Fox Sports and NBC.

Quotable Nancy: "A league is built on rookies, players who have some experience, and veterans. I'm a measuring stick for the other players and I hope to offer the kind of leadership that comes with having lots of experience. God has given me a gift and I'm still willing to pay the price to use it." (Prior to the start of the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997)