How Mercury's Taurasi And Others Won The Nancy Lieberman Award

Nancy Lieberman is a basketball legend with connections to the Phoenix Mercury, known for her outstanding college career at Old Dominion where she helped win multiple championships. She also excelled in professional leagues like the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL) and the Women's American Basketball Association (WABA) before joining the WNBA.

In the WNBA's inaugural season in 1997, the Phoenix Mercury was one of the original teams, and Lieberman was selected in the elite draft alongside Bridget Pettis, who scored the first basket for the franchise. During that season, Lieberman played 25 games off the bench, averaging 2.6 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 rebounds.

After her playing stint with the Mercury, Lieberman transitioned to coaching, notably with the Detroit Shock. She briefly returned to the court in 2008, signing a seven-day contract with Detroit and recording two assists in one game.

The Nancy Lieberman Award was established in 2000 to honor players who demonstrate leadership and playmaking skills similar to Lieberman's. Sue Bird was the first recipient, winning it three consecutive times, followed by Diana Taurasi in 2003 and 2004. Taurasi later became the Mercury's number one draft pick in 2004.

Several award winners have ties to the Phoenix Mercury, including Temeka Johnson (2009-2011 player), Kristi Toliver (current coaching staff), Andrea Riley (2012 player), Skylar Diggins (won in 2012 and 2013, played for Phoenix), and Moriah Jefferson (won in 2015 and 2016, played for Mercury in 2023). This highlights the award's strong connection to the franchise.

The Nancy Lieberman Award continues to celebrate players who embody Lieberman's legacy, with potential for future Mercury athletes to add to its history, as seen with stars like Taurasi and Diggins.