Wednesday, November 7, 2001

Lieberman inspires TCU players
By Kelly Morris
Skiff Staff

Ever since junior guard Candice Baldwin was little, she wanted to be just like Nancy Lieberman.

Baldwin had the opportunity to meet her idol Tuesday night as she, the rest of the women’s basketball team and guests listened to Lieberman speak at the team’s preseason banquet at the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center.

Caleb Williams/SKIFF STAFF Nancy Lieberman speaks at the TCU women’s basketball preseason banquet Tuesday night.

As the Frogs enter their season ranked 35th in the preseason AP and USA Today/ESPN polls.

“You have the chance ladies to put your fingerprint on the history on this program,” Lieberman told the group. “You have the opportunity to define your era of TCU basketball. You can push the bar to what you want the future to be at this program.
“If you believe in yourself and believe where (head coach Jeff Mittie) is going to take you, then you’re going to have to make some young girls in the future work mighty hard to be a Lady Frog.”

Lieberman, now not playing professionally, was a guard for WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury from 1997-1998. She served as the general manager and coach of the Detroit Shock in 1998-1999 and is currently an ESPN college basketball commentator and analyst.
And just as Baldwin is a fan of Lieberman’s, Lieberman said conversely she is a fan of TCU.

“I feel very close to this team,” Lieberman said. “I live here. I just want to get the word out on this team.”

Lieberman became a Dallas resident 22 years ago when she joined the Dallas Diamonds in the Women’s Basketball League.

Sophomore guard DeeDee Favors said Lieberman’s speech was inspirational.
“It made me want to go out and practice right now because she is such a great player,” Favors said. “I just can’t believe she came to TCU.”

At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Lieberman won the silver medal for Team USA at age 18 — making her the youngest basketball player in Olympic history to medal.

Sophomore Tiffany Evans said Lieberman is someone she looks up to.

“When I was in elementary school, I went to her free clinic at my high school,” Evans said. “From then on she has been a big hero to me.”

Evans wants to follow in Lieberman’s footsteps and pursue a professional basketball career.

“It’s every college basketball player’s dream,” Evans said. “But it would be hard to follow in (Lieberman’s) shoes.”

Kelly Morris
k.l.morris@student.tcu.edu