TSHOF to Induct Dallas Basketball Legend and Coach Nancy Lieberman

Dallas Basketball Legend and Coach Nancy Lieberman to be Inducted into the TSHOF

Lieberman joins Jason Witten, Andre Johnson, Greg Swindell and more as one of the seven Texas Sports Legends to be honored as part of the Class of 2019.

WACO, Texas (Feb. 21, 2019) -- Nancy Lieberman, otherwise known as "Lady Magic," will be inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame at the annual inductee banquet and ceremony on March 30.


Lieberman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and often played pickup games at Rucker Park. In high school, Lieberman played for Team USA in the 1975 World Championship, and the Pan American Games, winning gold.


Lieberman attended Old Dominion University in Virginia. As a point guard, she led the women's basketball team in back-to-back AIAW National Championships in 1979 and 1980 with a record of 72-2. She won the WNIT Title in 1978, and was a three-time Kodak All-American from 1978-1980. She was a two-time Wade Trophy winner, deeming her the nation's best player. She also recieved the Broderick Cup in 1980 as the nation's top female athlete.


Lieberman was a part of the first-ever Women's Olympic Basketball Team in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, where she became the youngest player in Olympics history to win a medal (silver) at the age of 18. She earned a spot on the team for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, but did not compete due to the boycotts at the time.


Lieberman went on to be the first pick in the 1980 Women's Basketball League Draft by the Dallas Diamonds. The Diamonds won the championship in 1984 with Lieberman as the MVP.


She was the first female to ever play in the United States Basketball League in 1986, touring the world as a Washington General- the rivals to the Harlem Globetrotters. Lieberman played for the Phoenix Mercury as a part of the inaugural season of the WNBA in 1997. She broke her own record as the oldest WNBA player with the Detroit Shock at age 50.


Lieberman began her professional coaching career with the Detroit Shock. After moving back to Texas, in 2004 and 2005, she led the Dallas Fury to the WNBA Finals and championship. She later became the first female Head Coach of a men's professional basketball team, the Texas Legends, a Dallas Mavericks affiliate, in 2009.


In 2015, Lieberman became the second female to ever serve as an assistant NBA coach with the Sacramento Kings. In 2018, she was the first female to be a Head Coach for a BIG3 team. She lead "Power" to the championship and was named Coach of the Year.


After 38 years in Texas, Lieberman presently focuses on Nancy Lieberman Charities, an organization that promotes and helps to develop healthy lifestyles and educational opportunities for over 3.5 million children a year. She also currently serves as a studio analyst for the New Orleans Pelicans, and is a proud mom to her son TJ Cline who plays professionally in Israel.


Lieberman will be one of seven inductees honored at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame banquet on March 30. She will be joined by the family of former Tennis legend Maureen Connolly Brinker (deceased), former Houston Texans wide reciever Andre Johnson, Dallas Cowboys legend Jason Witten, former University of Arkansas Outland Trophy winner Loyd Phillips, former University of Texas and MLB pitcher Greg Swindell and former Texas A&M and NFL kicker Tony Franklin.


The Class of 2019 Inductees will be honored on Saturday, March 30 at 6 p.m. at the Waco Convention Center. Before the banquet, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame will host a reception at 4 p.m. Combination Reception and Banquet tickets can be purchased for $200 each or $1,400 for a reserved table of eight. Tickets for the banquet only can be purchased for $75 each or $600 for a reserved table of eight. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call 800-567-9561 or visit http://www.tshof.org. 

About the Texas Sports Hall of Fame:

The Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Waco, Texas, chronicles the heroes and legends of the Lone Star State sports at all levels, including high school standouts, Olympians and professionals. Establshed in 1993, the organization's mission is to preserve the legacies of all inductees and the history of sports in Texas to educate and inspire guests of all ages. Home to over 300 Texas Legends, the museum houses the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.