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.

Past Winners
2024 Top Five Finalists



Player Name School
Photo of Georgia Amoore Georgia Amoore Virginia Tech
Photo of Caitlin Clark Caitlin Clark Iowa
Photo of Hannah Hidalgo Hannah Hidalgo Notre Dame
Photo of Te-Hina Paopao Te-Hina Paopao South Carolina
Photo of Jacy Sheldon Jacy Sheldon Ohio State

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

Year Player Name School
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