The Best of SBS: Napheesa Collier & Nancy Lieberman

Key Takeaways

Nancy Lieberman, a two-time Olympian and Hall of Famer, credits Muhammad Ali for life lessons and mentorship.
Lieberman prioritized family, making the decision to leave an NBA coaching role to care for her sick mother.
Women's basketball has experienced "supersonic blossoming," with pioneers and current stars contributing to its growth and visibility.
Napheesa Collier co-founded 'Unrivaled' to establish a professional league offering superior conditions and opportunities for players.
Collier emphasizes mental strength, vocal leadership, and a direct, reasoned approach as crucial to her high-level performance.

Host introduced two-time Olympian and Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman, exploring the origins of her toughness beyond basketball.
Lieberman discussed connections with figures like Muhammad Ali, attributing these relationships to a shared pursuit of excellence and mutual respect.
At age 21, Lieberman met Muhammad Ali at the New York Stock Exchange, where she initially felt intimidated but asserted her own claim as 'greatest of all times'.
Ali shared life lessons with Lieberman about racism, philanthropy, and destiny, encouraging her to "shake up the world."

Lieberman discussed her mother's support for her athletic career and how societal views evolved regarding girls in sports.
She explained developing a "mamba mentality" and how sports became her "ticket out" and vehicle for survival given her mother's challenging circumstances.
Lieberman left her role as an NBA assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings to care for her sick mother, emphasizing her sense of responsibility.
She declined a contract extension from Vlade Divac but accepted an offer from Ice Cube to become the first female head coach in a men's professional league (Big Three), with equal pay.

Lieberman discussed how basketball provided her access to Black culture, becoming her most comfortable and authentic space.
She noted her ability to effectively lead men and her strong protective instincts, particularly for underserved individuals.
Lieberman emphasized the importance of creating a respectful environment within her locker rooms for all players.

Lieberman reflected on the rapid and unimaginable growth of women's basketball in recent years, comparing it to a "supersonic blossoming."
She recounted a powerful meeting with Caitlin Clark before a championship game, highlighting Clark's determination and the growing spotlight on women's basketball.
Napheesa Collier contrasted her time as an 'unpaid pioneer' with the current generation benefiting from NIL deals, expressing pride in the sport's growth and progress.

Collier noted her development as a leader, becoming more vocal in Minnesota due to her veteran teammates and coaches preparing her for the role.
She described her leadership style as direct and reasoned, rather than confrontational, focusing on understanding a teammate's perspective to address issues effectively.
Collier learned to adjust her voice pitch to be heard over crowd noise and communicate critical plays, a skill initially exhausting but now second nature.

Collier explained that her women's basketball league, Unrivaled, offers superior amenities including a weight room, training room, sauna, esthetician room, and on-call masseuse.
The league aims to provide a professional experience beyond basic necessities, addressing the need for players to supplement income overseas.
Collier discussed working with her husband, Alex, on 'Unrivaled,' explaining how they established boundaries between their personal and professional lives.

Collier revealed that professional basketball was not her initial career aspiration, with childhood dreams of being a teacher, doctor, or hairstylist.
She explained falling into professional basketball somewhat accidentally, initially playing to get her education paid for.
Collier stated that her mental game, not just physical attributes like speed or jumping ability, is her greatest advantage, allowing high performance.
Her exceptional footwork resulted from intense dedication during her sophomore year of college, driven by a desire to overcome a lack of confidence.

Collier discusses how anger from a past loss to the Liberty motivates her, pushing her to become a better, more focused player aiming to win decisively.
She expressed a desire to be 'greedy' by winning both the 'Unrivaled' one-on-one tournament and a team title, especially with $50,000 on the line.
Collier believes 'Unrivaled' has begun changing the landscape of women's sports, but will only feel fulfilled when player contracts increase significantly and the league continues to grow.