Nancy Lieberman’s Efforts to Raise Prostate Cancer Awareness

Nancy Lieberman, a pioneer in women’s basketball, recalls the impact of prostate cancer on her close friends. In 1986, Lieberman became the first woman to play in a men’s professional basketball league, the United States Basketball League (USBL) with the Springfield Fame. A notable story is that of her former teammate, Micheal Ray Richardson, who passed away due to prostate cancer. Lieberman spoke at his funeral and shared how Richardson kept his illness hidden from his family, including his wife, Kim.

Lieberman is now advocating for prostate cancer awareness alongside other former athletes like Spencer Haywood and Alonzo Mourning, and ESPN’s Jay Harris, who have survived their battles with the disease. This advocacy is part of her collaboration with the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Ice Cube, and the BIG3 league to encourage men to undergo PSA testing.

Lieberman urges men to ask their doctors to ‘Check the box.’

The ‘box’ refers to the PSA test, a blood test measuring prostate-specific antigen levels. The ‘Check the Box’ campaign by the Prostate Cancer Foundation aims for men to request this test during routine blood work. Lieberman stresses the importance of this simple action which could be crucial for early detection.

She also appeals to women to support the men in their lives. Lieberman suggests that women encourage men to visit the doctor, emphasizing that they are not alone in this journey.

Sports reporter Jackson Thompson covers critical political and cultural issues in sports, and his reporting has influenced federal government actions related to Title IX enforcement. His work, featured in major outlets like The New York Times and ESPN, highlights the intersection of sports and societal issues.