Nancy Lieberman remembers the impact of prostate cancer on her friends. In 1986, Lieberman made history 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). Tragically, her former teammate Micheal Ray Richardson passed away after a prostate cancer diagnosis. Lieberman shared, “I spoke at Micheal Ray Richardson’s funeral. He was my teammate at a time when there was no WNBA.”
Nancy Lieberman, a prominent figure in women’s basketball, attended a game between the Dallas Wings and Las Vegas Aces during the second round of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 26, 2023. During this time, she recalled that Richardson kept his illness a secret from those close to him. “He chose not to share his condition with his wife, Kim, or his family,” Lieberman said.
Other athletes, including Spencer Haywood, Alonzo Mourning, and ESPN’s Jay Harris, have successfully battled prostate cancer. These stories fuel Lieberman’s mission to encourage men to seek testing. Lieberman has joined the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Ice Cube, and the BIG3 league to promote awareness: “Ask for a PSA test.”
The PSA test, or prostate-specific antigen test, is a simple blood test that can help detect prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Foundation’s “Check the Box” campaign encourages men to speak with their doctors about this test. Lieberman emphasized, “When you have blood drawn, ask your doctor to ‘check the box’ for the PSA test.”
Lieberman is also urging women to encourage the men in their lives to seek medical advice. She explained, “As women, we need to support our men, tell them to visit the doctor, and assure them that we are with them every step of the way.”
Jackson Thompson, a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, covers political and cultural issues in sports, bringing an investigative approach to his reporting. His work, recognized by federal actions and mainstream media outlets, emphasizes the importance of awareness in health issues like prostate cancer.
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