Nancy Lieberman vividly recalls the times prostate cancer deeply affected those she knew. In 1986, she made history by becoming the first woman to play in a men’s professional basketball league, the United States Basketball League (USBL), where she joined the Springfield Fame. Her former teammate, Micheal Ray Richardson, passed away following a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Lieberman reflected on Richardson’s passing, sharing her experience speaking at his funeral: “He was my teammate during a time when there was no WNBA.” She described how Richardson chose to keep his illness private, not revealing it to his wife, Kim, or family members.

Other notable sports personas, like Spencer Haywood, Alonzo Mourning, and Jay Harris, have survived similar battles with the disease. Inspired by these experiences, Lieberman is motivated to promote awareness among men.

Her efforts are supported by the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Ice Cube, and the BIG3. Together, they are championing the “Check the Box” campaign, which encourages men to request a PSA test during regular blood work. The PSA, or prostate-specific antigen test, is a simple blood test that helps determine PSA levels.

“You must tell the doctor, ‘Check the box,’ because sometimes they will not check the box,” Lieberman emphasized, referring to the importance of requesting this specific test.

Lieberman also urges women to support the men in their lives by encouraging them to get tested. “As women, we need to nudge our men and say, ‘Go to the doctor. Don’t be afraid. We are standing right with you,’” she advised.

Jackson Thompson, a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, covers these critical political and cultural issues in sports, often with an investigative approach. His work has been recognized in federal government actions concerning Title IX and cited by major media outlets.