WBB’s Richards Placed on Lieberman Award Watch List for Point Guards
11/9/2020 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Reigning National Defensive Player of the Year named to prestigious preseason list
WACO, Texas – Baylor senior DiDi Richards is expected to make the switch to point guard for the Lady Bears for the 2020-21 season, and she was named Monday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and WBCA Preseason Watch List for the Nancy Lieberman Award.
The Lieberman Award recognizes the nation's top NCAA Division I point guard. The honor was named after Naismith Hall of Fame 1996 Class inductee, Nancy Lieberman. Tto be considered, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills Lieberman was known for.
Richards has suffered a preseason injury to her nervous system after a collision with fellow senior Moon Ursin in practice Oct. 24. Her timetable for return is indefinite, but she has made progress after temporarily losing feeling below her knees.
A senior from Cypress, Richards was the National Defensive Player of the Year in 2019-20, collecting the honor from both the WBCA and Naismith. She was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big 12 Second Team selection. Richards averaged career bests in points per game (8.2), rebounds per game (4.9), steals per game (1.7), and she shot a team-best 77.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Despite not truly playing point guard last season, Richards ranked 6th in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9:1), 14th in the NCAA in assists (171) and 13th in assists per game (5.7). She led the Big 12 in all three categories.
2021 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates*
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2020-21 season
About Nancy Lieberman:
Playing hoops on the rough-and-tumble Harlem courts, Brooklyn-bred Nancy Lieberman learned to play a physical, aggressive style of basketball unlike other women of her time. As a 5'10" point guard, Lieberman was taller than many of the guards of her era, and her ability to drive to the hoop, dish out assists, and grab hard-fought rebounds served her well during her stellar career. She scored over 2,400 pts, 1,100 rebs and 961 ast as she led the Lady Monarchs to a 125-15 record. 1 WNIT Title and back to back Nat'l Championships in 1979 and 1980 (102-6 her last 3 years)
Before her illustrious career began at ODU, Nancy made the 1975 USA Pan Am team that won the Gold Medal in Mexico City she was a HS Jr at Far Rockaway HS at the time. 1976 as a member of the USA's first Women's Olympic which won the Silver Medal. Team Lieberman made history by being the youngest Olympian in basketball ever, male or female (which still stand today) Lieberman led Old Dominion University to back-to-back AIAW national championships in 1979 and 1980. She was twice named as the Wade Trophy winner — a basketball first as the nation's top female athlete during those two seasons, 3-time All-American. Lieberman was the two-time winner of the Broderick Cup as well., Lieberman played professionally in the first women's pro league in the WBL 1980-81 and in 1984 in the WABA. Earning WBL MVP honors with the Dallas Diamonds in 1981, she led the team to the 1984 WABA championship and was league MVP
In 1986, she signed to be the first women to play in a men's professional league in the USBL with the Springfield Fame, and in 1987 with the Long Island Knights. She joined the 1987 Harlem Globetrotter world tour with the Washington Generals. 1997 Lieberman made history in the inaugural season of the WNBA, playing for the Phoenix Mercury at the age of 39 and in 2008 playing for the Detroit Shock at age 50! Her coaching career started in 1998 as the Head Coach/GM for the Detroit Shock taking the Shock to the playoffs in year 2. In 2011, she was the first women Head Coach hired in the NBA D-League for the Dallas Mavericks affiliate the Texas Legends and led them to the playoffs. In 2015, she became only the second women hired as an Assistant Coach in the NBA with the Sacramento Kinds. She was named a recipient of the 2017 Mannie Jackson Basketball's Human Spirit Award for her on-going philanthropic work across the country through her Nancy Lieberman Charities, changing the lives of underserved youth across the country. In 2018 Nancy Lieberman became the 1st Female Head Coach in a Men's Professional League with the BIG3 League for team Power. Nancy lead team Power to a 2018 Championship victory and was selected Coach of the Year, becoming the first female in history to be awarded Coach of the Year. Follow Nancy on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @Nancylieberman and go to nancyliebermancharities.org for more information.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: www.WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981 or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.
Basketball Hall of Fame Media Contact
Nicole Taylor, Position Sports // mediarelations@positionsports.com
The Lieberman Award recognizes the nation's top NCAA Division I point guard. The honor was named after Naismith Hall of Fame 1996 Class inductee, Nancy Lieberman. Tto be considered, candidates must exhibit the floor leadership, play-making and ball-handling skills Lieberman was known for.
Richards has suffered a preseason injury to her nervous system after a collision with fellow senior Moon Ursin in practice Oct. 24. Her timetable for return is indefinite, but she has made progress after temporarily losing feeling below her knees.
A senior from Cypress, Richards was the National Defensive Player of the Year in 2019-20, collecting the honor from both the WBCA and Naismith. She was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Big 12 Second Team selection. Richards averaged career bests in points per game (8.2), rebounds per game (4.9), steals per game (1.7), and she shot a team-best 77.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Despite not truly playing point guard last season, Richards ranked 6th in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.9:1), 14th in the NCAA in assists (171) and 13th in assists per game (5.7). She led the Big 12 in all three categories.
2021 Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award Candidates*
| Destiny Slocum | Arkansas |
| DiDi Richards | Baylor |
| Dyaisha Fair | Buffalo |
| Micaela Kelly | Central Michigan |
| Paige Bueckers | Connecticut |
| Tiana England | Florida State |
| Ali Patberg | Indiana |
| Tra-'Dayja Smith | Longwood |
| Hailey Van Lith | Louisville |
| Amy Dilk | Michigan |
| Myah Taylor | Mississippi State |
| Raina Perez | NC State |
| Cece Hooks | Ohio |
| Diamond Johnson | Rutgers |
| Nevena Dimitrijevic | St. Francis - Brooklyn |
| Tiana Mangakahia | Syracuse |
| Lauren Heard | TCU |
| Kyra Lambert | Texas |
| Dru Glyten | Utah |
| Katia Gallegos | UTEP |
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2020-21 season
About Nancy Lieberman:
Playing hoops on the rough-and-tumble Harlem courts, Brooklyn-bred Nancy Lieberman learned to play a physical, aggressive style of basketball unlike other women of her time. As a 5'10" point guard, Lieberman was taller than many of the guards of her era, and her ability to drive to the hoop, dish out assists, and grab hard-fought rebounds served her well during her stellar career. She scored over 2,400 pts, 1,100 rebs and 961 ast as she led the Lady Monarchs to a 125-15 record. 1 WNIT Title and back to back Nat'l Championships in 1979 and 1980 (102-6 her last 3 years)
Before her illustrious career began at ODU, Nancy made the 1975 USA Pan Am team that won the Gold Medal in Mexico City she was a HS Jr at Far Rockaway HS at the time. 1976 as a member of the USA's first Women's Olympic which won the Silver Medal. Team Lieberman made history by being the youngest Olympian in basketball ever, male or female (which still stand today) Lieberman led Old Dominion University to back-to-back AIAW national championships in 1979 and 1980. She was twice named as the Wade Trophy winner — a basketball first as the nation's top female athlete during those two seasons, 3-time All-American. Lieberman was the two-time winner of the Broderick Cup as well., Lieberman played professionally in the first women's pro league in the WBL 1980-81 and in 1984 in the WABA. Earning WBL MVP honors with the Dallas Diamonds in 1981, she led the team to the 1984 WABA championship and was league MVP
In 1986, she signed to be the first women to play in a men's professional league in the USBL with the Springfield Fame, and in 1987 with the Long Island Knights. She joined the 1987 Harlem Globetrotter world tour with the Washington Generals. 1997 Lieberman made history in the inaugural season of the WNBA, playing for the Phoenix Mercury at the age of 39 and in 2008 playing for the Detroit Shock at age 50! Her coaching career started in 1998 as the Head Coach/GM for the Detroit Shock taking the Shock to the playoffs in year 2. In 2011, she was the first women Head Coach hired in the NBA D-League for the Dallas Mavericks affiliate the Texas Legends and led them to the playoffs. In 2015, she became only the second women hired as an Assistant Coach in the NBA with the Sacramento Kinds. She was named a recipient of the 2017 Mannie Jackson Basketball's Human Spirit Award for her on-going philanthropic work across the country through her Nancy Lieberman Charities, changing the lives of underserved youth across the country. In 2018 Nancy Lieberman became the 1st Female Head Coach in a Men's Professional League with the BIG3 League for team Power. Nancy lead team Power to a 2018 Championship victory and was selected Coach of the Year, becoming the first female in history to be awarded Coach of the Year. Follow Nancy on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @Nancylieberman and go to nancyliebermancharities.org for more information.
About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. For more information, visit us online: www.WBCA.org, follow @wbca1981 or call 1-770-279-8027.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame:
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game's elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.
Basketball Hall of Fame Media Contact
Nicole Taylor, Position Sports // mediarelations@positionsports.com
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