Nancy Lieberman Advocates for Prostate Cancer Awareness

Nancy Lieberman recalls the moments when prostate cancer affected those around her. In 1986, she broke barriers by becoming the first woman to play in a men’s professional basketball league, joining the Springfield Fame in the United States Basketball League (USBL). Unfortunately, her former teammate, Micheal Ray Richardson, passed away after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“I spoke at Micheal Ray Richardson’s funeral,” Lieberman stated. “He was my teammate before the WNBA existed.” Lieberman shared that Richardson kept his illness a secret even from his wife and family, which made the situation more difficult.

Other notable figures such as former players Spencer Haywood and Alonzo Mourning, as well as ESPN’s Jay Harris, have also battled the disease and emerged as survivors. These experiences fuel Lieberman’s mission to spread awareness among men.

Lieberman, along with the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Ice Cube, and the BIG3, is promoting the “Check the Box” campaign. The initiative encourages men to ask for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test during regular blood work. “You must tell the doctor, ‘Check the box,’ because sometimes they will not check the box,” Lieberman emphasized, referring to the crucial PSA test.

The campaign aims to prompt men to discuss their PSA levels with their doctors as part of routine health check-ups. Lieberman also urges women to support the men in their lives by encouraging them to seek medical advice. “If you’re a woman, we’re going to nudge our men and say, ‘Go to the doctor. Don’t be afraid. We are standing right with you,’” she said.

Jackson Thompson contributed to this report and emphasizes significant political and cultural issues in sports through an investigative approach. His work has been recognized by federal actions involving the enforcement of Title IX and cited in major publications, including The New York Times and ESPN.com.