Wednesday, 06 May 2026

Nancy Lieberman

Contest: The US Athletics Hall of Fame - Athletes 2026
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Basketball
Statistics & Accolades: 1 WABA Championship (1984)
1 WABA MVP (1984)
1 Olympic Silver Medal (1976)
1 World Basketball Championship Gold Medal (1979)
1 Pan-American Games Gold Medal (1975)
1 Pan-American Games Silver Medal (1979)
2 Honda Sports Award (1979 & 1980) 2 Wade Trophies (1979 & 1980)
3-Time All-American (1978, 1979 & 1980)
Member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Nancy Lieberman, hailing from New York City, honed her tough and aggressive playing style on Harlem's asphalt courts before making a name for herself at Old Dominion University. Between 1976 and 1980, she led the Monarchs to back-to-back AIAW national championships, becoming the first player to win the Wade Trophy twice. She also set school records for assists and steals, which remain unbroken.

At 18, “Lady Magic” won silver at the 1976 Olympics, making her the youngest basketball player to medal at the games. She went on to play professionally in multiple leagues, including the WBL with the Dallas Diamonds. In 1986, she made history as the first woman to play in a men’s professional league with the United States Basketball League's Springfield Fame. Showing incredible longevity, she joined the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997 at age 39 and later broke her own record as the oldest WNBA player by suiting up for the Detroit Shock in 2008 at age 50.

We are proud to nominate Nancy Lieberman for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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