
The Nancy Lieberman Award
Playing hoops on the rough-and-tumble Harlem courts, Brooklyn-bred Nancy Lieberman learned to play a physical, aggressive style of basketball unlike other women of her time. As a 5'10" point guard, Lieberman was taller than many of the guards of her era, and her ability to drive to the hoop, dish out assists, and grab hard-fought rebounds served her well during her stellar career. Lieberman led Old Dominion University to back-to-back AIAW national championships in 1979 and 1980. She was twice named as the Wade Trophy winner - a basketball first. As the nation's top female athlete during those two seasons, Lieberman was the two-time winner of the Broderick Cup as well. Lieberman played professionally in the Women's Professional Basketball League, Women's American Basketball Association, United States Basketball League, Women's National Basketball Association, and with the Washington Generals. In 1984, she earned WABA MVP honors as she led her team to the WABA championship. In 1998, Lieberman was hired as general manager and head coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock. She coached for 3 seasons. On July 30, 2015, Lieberman became the second woman in history to join the coaching staff of an NBA team, when she was hired as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings.
PLAYER NAME | SCHOOL | |
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Georgia Amoore
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Kentucky
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Kiki Rice
|
UCLA
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Olivia Miles
|
Notre Dame
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Paige Bueckers
|
UConn
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Rori Harmon
|
Texas
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Lieberman's Career Highlights
College
- Old Dominion University (1976 – 1980)
College Playing Highlights
- Two-time Wade Trophy Award Winner (1979, 1980)
- Two-time Honda Sports Award for Basketball (1979, 1980)
- Kodak All-American (1978, 1979, 1980)
- ODU Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
- Broderick Cup Award Winner (1979, 1980)
- Holds the school records for career assists (961) and steals (562)
- WNIT Championship (1978)
- AIAW Championship (1979, 1980) Inducted into the ODU Hall of Fame in 1985
Pro
- Dallas Diamonds (1980 – 1981, 1984)
- Springfield Fame (1986)
- Long Island Knights (1987)
- Phoenix Mercury (1997)
- Detroit Shock (2008)
Pro Playing Highlights
- #1 overall player drafted by the Dallas Diamonds in the WBL’s second season of play (1981)
- WABA Championship with the Dallas Diamonds (1984)
- WABA League MVP (1984)
- Became the first women ever to play in a men’s professional league when she joined the USBL’s Springfield Fame (1986)
- Won a silver medal with USA Basketball in the 1976 Summer Olympics
Past Winners
Nancy Lieberman Award - Point Guard
Year | Player Name | School |
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2025 | Paige Bueckers | University of Connecticut |
2024 | Caitlin Clark | University of Iowa |
2023 | Caitlin Clark | University of Iowa |
2022 | Caitlin Clark | University of Iowa |
2021 | Paige Bueckers | University of Connecticut |
2020 | Sabrina Ionescu | University of Oregon |
2019 | Sabrina Ionescu | University of Oregon |
2018 | Sabrina Ionescu | University of Oregon |
2017 | Kelsey Plum | University of Washington |
2016 | Moriah Jefferson | University of Connecticut |
2015 | Moriah Jefferson | University of Connecticut |
2014 | Odyssey Sims | Baylor University |
2013 | Skylar Diggins | Notre Dame University |
2012 | Skylar Diggins | Notre Dame University |
2011 | Courtney Vandersloot | Gonzaga University |
2010 | Andrea Riley | Oklahoma State University |
2009 | Renee Montgomery | University of Connecticut |
2008 | Kristi Toliver | University of Maryland |
2007 | Lindsey Harding | Duke University |
2006 | Ivory Latta | University of North Carolina |
2005 | Temeka Johnson | Louisiana State University |
2004 | Diana Taurasi | University of Connecticut |
2003 | Diana Taurasi | University of Connecticut |
2002 | Sue Bird | University of Connecticut |
2001 | Sue Bird | University of Connecticut |
2000 | Sue Bird | University of Connecticut |