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The Caitlin Clark effect hate is real ... so says Nancy Lieberman, who tells TMZ Sports players need to embrace the "cash cow" and stop being petty. We spoke with Lieberman after the All-Star voting results were released ... which showed Clark as the 9th-ranked WNBA guard in the player vote.
Lieberman, 67, says Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Sabrina Ionescu, and other players are all incredibly talented ... but it's time everyone starts celebrating each other instead of acting like enemies. "Just go out and ball," Lieberman said, "Play the game!"
For the first time in the history of the Dallas Mavericks organization, Mavs TV will have a broadcast comprised entirely of women for Friday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Center. Kylen Mills is slated to serve as the play-by-play announcer, Raegan Pebley will be the primary color commentator and Dana Larson is scheduled to be the secondary analyst. Lesley McCaslin and Nancy Lieberman will be featured on-court for pregame/halftime/postgame.
One of the most famous names to play for the Generals is Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, who suited up for the Generals in the 1980s. Lieberman was the first woman to play for the Generals. Kayla Gabor is on the team now and is the second woman to play for the Generals. Gabor is a former all-conference guard from Division II Lake Erie College in Ohio, a leading scorer during the 2016-17 season for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. “I’m a General, which is very unique,” Gabor said. “Nancy Lieberman, I believe, was 1977 to ’78, so for me, bringing back the female on the opponent’s side is a unique spotlight. I know in the past, we’re villainous and supposed to just be the enemy, but I always came in like, ‘OK, we don’t win every game, but I set personal goals.’ My personal goals are to get the crowd on my side. “I always like to try and find people out of the audience to be like, ‘Watch this!’ and hit a couple 3s in a row. I’ll do it for them. Seriously, it is motivation for me.”
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Clark, currently with the Indiana Fever, was offered $5 million to play in Ice Cube’s BIG3 basketball league. What could Clark bring to The BIG3? “Not only more eyeballs, more viewers, more sponsors, more interest but we think she can be successful,” Ice Cube explained. “And pairing her with Nancy Lieberman whose broken those barriers… you’ll see her draining 4s in the big 3, breaking barriers and barriers in people's mind. That’s what is most important.”
Marc J. Spears: The National Basketball Retired Players Association names Charles “Choo” Smith as Chairman, Shawn Marion as Vice Chairman, Sam Perkins as Treasurer and Grant Hill as Secretary. The NBRPA also added Directors Mike Bantom, CJ Kupec, and Nancy Lieberman.
Billie Moore was the first-ever coach of the U.S. women's Olympic basketball team and the first coach in the women's game to win national collegiate titles at two different schools, breaking through at my beloved Cal State Fullerton and later winning at UCLA as well. Moore died this week at 79 after a difficult battle with a cancer of plasma cells (multiple myeloma) that hampers the body's immune response. I never met Coach Moore but I know she was revered by her players ... especially the Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
Marianne Stanley, presented byCathy Rush (‘08), Lisa Leslie (‘15), Nancy Lieberman (‘96) Hugh Evans, presented by Reggie Miller (‘12), George Gervin (‘96) Theresa Shank-Grentz, presented by Cathy Rush (‘08), Charles Barkley (’06), Vivian Stringer (‘09) Del Harris, presented by Nancy Lieberman (‘96), John Calipari (‘15), Sidney Moncrief (‘19) Lou Hudson, presented by Spencer Haywood (‘15), Jamaal Wilkes (‘12) Larry Costello, presented by Billy Cunningham (‘86), Wayne Embry (‘99), Bob Dandridge (’21) Radivoj Korac, presented by Spencer Haywood (‘15)
For the past few seasons, people from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to former WNBA and G League coach and NBA assistant coach Nancy Lieberman said a woman will be hired as a head coach soon. How soon is soon? In an interview last season with USA TODAY Sports, NBA president of league operations Byron Spurell said, “We want it to happen organically, and when the right opportunity matches the right person, this will happen. We just feel we’re so well positioned. If it happens tomorrow or the next day or this season or a few seasons away, we’re really close. But we’re not putting a timetable on it." Lieberman told USA TODAY Sports: “It’s right in front of us. It’s going to happen.”
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Curry took his adoration a step further when he told Hamilton he was not only up for an interview, but wanted to get more involved. That’s how basketball’s greatest jump shooter became an executive producer. Both players are interviewed in the film, along with a lineup of basketball legends — from Dirk Nowitzki to Bob Knight, Nancy Lieberman and Clark Kellogg. Their astonishment at Sailors’ pioneering shot, particularly a photograph that appeared in Life magazine in 1946, will resonate with basketball fans.
Joe Favorito: Tearful @NancyLieberman told story of how #kobebryant called her #mamamamba & asked her to come train his daughter Saturday night prior to crash. Told Diana Munson she will be a role model for the family over time . #munsondinner #SportsBiz
Hammon, the first female full-time assistant coach in NBA history, was briefly the only women assistant coach with Nancy Lieberman (2015-17) and Boucek (2017-present), but in the last couple seasons, there has been a clear jump. That should only continue, which comforts Toliver. “It’s progress. Certainly, if they’re qualified for the job, they should have the job. Obviously, other franchises are recognizing the benefit of women on their staffs and I think it’s great.”
"It’s almost embarrassing," Lieberman said. "But it hits my heart that these guys are just so kind to me. We work very hard together for their success and I’m really proud to be their coach. God blessed me amazing men." Despite Lieberman wanting to stay on topic about her team the Power, which won its season opener in the BIG3 basketball league Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena, Richardson’s message brought an important issue to light: Nancy Lieberman is a great coach and the NBA is ready for a female head coach.
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