Nancy Lieberman
Inducted:
1996
Player Stats
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
Born
July 1, 1958
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Position
Point guard
College
Old Dominion (1976–1980)
Nancy Lieberman is one of the most influential guards in basketball history, known for her toughness, leadership, and elite playmaking. A pioneer of the women’s game, Lieberman dominated at Old Dominion University, where she led the program to national prominence with her scoring, vision, and defensive intensity. She became a global star with USA Basketball, serving as the floor general for teams that won Olympic and World Championship gold medals.
Lieberman’s competitive fire and basketball IQ set her apart, and she remained a high-level performer across multiple decades. She later broke barriers again by playing in the WNBA at age 50, proving her skill and durability were timeless. Beyond playing, she made history as one of the first women to coach in men’s professional basketball. Her lasting impact on the sport earned her induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.
Lieberman's Awards and Records
- Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (Inaugural Class, 1999)
- 2x Wade Trophy Winner (1979, 1980)
- 2x Honda Sports Award for Basketball (1979, 1980)
- BIG3 Coach of the Year (2018)
- BIG3 Champion (2018 - Team Power)
- 10 Retired by Old Dominion University
WNBA Records
- WABA champion (1984)
- WABA Most Valuable Player (1984)
WNBA Teams
Phoenix Mercury (1997)
Detroit Shock (2008)
WNBA Draft
1997: 2 (Elite) round, 15th overall pick
Phoenix Mercury
WNBA Stats
Playing career:
1980–1987, 1997, 2008
Seasons:
2 (1997,2008)
Games Played:
26
Points:
64 (2.5 PPG)
Assist:
42 (1.6 APG)
Steal:
14 (0.5 SPG)
Blocks:
2 (0.1 BPG)
Field Goal Percentage:
32.1%
Free Throw Percentage:
80.0%
ODU Career Points:
2,430 (18.1 ppg)
ODU Career Assists:
961 (School Record)
ODU Career Steals:
562
Olympic Medals:
1 (Silver, 1976)