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50 year old Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman makes Shock-ing comeback

July 24, 2008 - The stroke is still there for Nancy Lieberman.

With five players handed league suspensions after Tuesday’s scuffle against the Los Angeles Sparks, the Shock went out and signed Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman to a seven- day contract. Lieberman had been the general manager and head coach of the Shock from 1998-2000, and is currently a television analyst.

At 50 (yikes) years old — she celebrated the big bday three weeks ago — Lieberman became the oldest player to suit up in league history. In her first (and likely only) game as a Detroit player, the Brooklyn native went 0-for-1 from the floor and collected two assists in her nine minutes of play.

The Houston Comets went on to defeat the undermanned Shock 79-61. Despite the Shock slump, Lieberman played admirably and showed that she’s truly “the best dame athlete.” For all you youngsters out there, next time you think you can’t do it, think again.

Lieberman was a standout for Far Rockaway High School in Queens, and played on the U.S. women’s team for the 1976 Olympics and at age 18 became the youngest basketball player in Olympic history to earn a gold medal. She went on to star at Old Dominion University from 1976-80 winning two national championships then performed in the short-lived Women’s Pro Basketball League.

Lieberman also broke ground in 1986, becoming the first female to play in a men’s league when she took the floor for Springfield of the USBL. She was originally drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the 1997 draft, spending one season with the club–becoming the oldest (then) player in league history at 39 years, 54 days old.

Over 17 professional seasons, she averaged 15.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. And with her latest foray into the game, the legend continues.