1997 WNBA Phoenix Mercury Signed Basketball - Lieberman, Miller, 12 More.
Lot 13. 1997 WNBA Phoenix Mercury Signed Basketball - Lieberman, Miller, 12 More. The 1997 season was the first for the Women’s National Basketball Association. Cheryl Miller coached the Phoenix team, and Nancy Lieberman was its most recognizable star. Lieberman is now a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Miller was inducted into the Naismith HoF in 1995; four years later, she was in the inaugural class of the Women’s HoF. In addition, in 2010, in recognition of her international accomplishments, she was enshrined in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Hall of Fame. During the 1997 season, Phoenix won the WNBA Western Conference title but lost to New York Liberty in the playoff semifinals. Miller autographed the panel of the Spalding full-sized basketball that presents the WNBA logo. She shares the panel with Steve Smith, the team’s assistant coach. Both signatures are mint 9 to gem mint 10. Signing as “Nancy Lieberman-Cline” and adding her uniform number, Lieberman and teammate Desma Thomas placed large, bold gem mint 10 autographs on another panel. Other signatures are by Tia Jackson and Jennifer Gillom, both gem mint 10; Tara Williams and Toni Foster, nm 8; Miko Hagiwara, mint 9, and Monique Ambers, nm 7; Umeki Webb and Bridget Pettis, mint 9; and Michele Timms and Marlies Askamp, nm-m 8 to mint 9. In addition, Smith, the assistant coach, single-signed a panel; the autograph is gem mint 10. Foster finished the season among the WNBA’s top 10 in rebounds, steals, blocks and field goal percentage. Gillom ranked among the top 10 in free throw percentage, field goals, points and points per game. And Timms was among the leaders in three categories – steals, assists and minutes per game. At age 39, Lieberman was the oldest player in the league; she missed much of the season with injuries. Miller subsequently served as sports reporter for TNT and other media. She is now the women’s head basketball coach California State Los Angeles. Generally regarded as one of the top contributors to U.S. women’s basketball, Lieberman served as a coach and general manager in the WNBA, as an assistant coach in the NBA and, more recently, as a broadcaster with the New York Pelicans. Timms and Gillom are members of the Women’s Basketball. Timms is also in FIFA Hall of Fame. Winning Bid $61.
