Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated
In 1984, the year after her Women’s American Basketball Association championship victory with the Dallas Diamonds, Nancy Lieberman was a reigning champion in a league that folded almost as quickly as it started. In the midst of deliberating her next plan of action to continue playing basketball, Lieberman received word that David Stern, then NBA commissioner, wanted her to come to New York to speak with him. Little did she know she’d be involved in the beginning conversations of an idea that led to the most innovative and progressive women’s league in history.
“I was really nervous,” Lieberman says. “I was sitting in [Stern’s] office, and he closed the door. I was 24, 25 years old. I was like, ‘Why am I here?’ And he says, ‘Well, they’ll fire me if they hear this.’ He sat down and he goes, ‘Nancy, before I’m done being the commissioner of the NBA, there’s going to be a WNBA.’ I just looked at him and went, ‘What are
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The Los Angeles Sparks extended coach Derek Fisher’s contract and appointed him the team’s general manager on Tuesday.
Fisher has guided the Sparks to a 37-19 record in his two years with the team and Los Angeles has reached the postseason both years.
“I’m honored to be named general manager of the LA Sparks and continue my role as head coach,” Fisher said. “This organization has a dynamic history, the most passionate fans in the WNBA, and an ownership group committed to success on and off the court. I’m thankful for the opportunity and excited to guide this team as we pursue a fourth WNBA title.”