The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Best of SBS: Napheesa Collier & Nancy Lieberman

Date: October 9, 2025

Episode Overview

Broadcast from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, this special “Best of South Beach Sessions” episode features in-depth and candid interviews with two trailblazers in women’s basketball: Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman and WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier. Hosted by Dan Le Batard and Stugotz, with Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan taking part in the interviews, the conversations traverse personal histories, leadership, fighting for opportunity, mentorship, overcoming doubt, and building legacies both on and off the court.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nancy Lieberman: A Lifetime of Trailblazing (00:57 – 26:01)

On Strength, Boundaries, and Early Mentors

• Nancy reflects on how defining her own boundaries, rather than quantifying toughness, shaped her life and career.
• Key influencer: Legendary journalist Dick Schaap, who mentored her, protected her, and introduced her to an array of important figures—including Muhammad Ali.
  • “I can't tell you why. Like, I want to do a book that says, ‘How do you know dot, dot, dot? How do you know Dick Schapp? How do you know Muhammad Ali?’” — Nancy Lieberman (02:02)

The Muhammad Ali Connection (04:24 – 09:53)

• Nancy tells her moving story of meeting Muhammad Ali as a young athlete, describing the pivotal role Ali played in mentoring her on issues of racism, philanthropy, humility, and self-worth.
  • “He taught me to respect everybody but fear nobody. He says, ‘You're going to encounter some hard times. Humility is confidence, arrogance is not.’” — Nancy Lieberman (07:41)
• Their friendship lasted 37 years, with Ali regularly checking in on her throughout different stages of her life.

Comebacks and Motherhood (08:53 – 12:09)

• Details coming out of retirement multiple times—first for the challenge of playing with men, and later so her son could see her play.
• Discussion of her role as a pioneering woman in male-dominated leagues and balancing family, especially as she became her mother’s caretaker in her mother’s later years.
  • “I became my mother's mother because she had nothing. She's trying to survive, and sports was my vehicle.” — Nancy Lieberman (11:03)

Breaking Barriers in Coaching (12:09 – 15:59)

• Nancy describes her time as the Sacramento Kings’ assistant coach—one of the first women in the NBA—her love for that job, and her difficult decision to leave when her mom became ill, emphasizing her sense of responsibility for the generations of women coming behind her.
  • “We can’t have one-offs for optics. Growth is growth, and we have to be given opportunity and chance.” — Nancy Lieberman (13:16)

Coaching in the Big3 League with Ice Cube

• A cold call from Ice Cube led to Nancy becoming the first female head coach in a men’s pro league. Ice Cube emphasized equality, offering her the same pay as male coaches.
  • “He celebrates me, doesn’t tolerate me... You don’t know how good somebody can be if you don’t give them a chance.” — Nancy Lieberman (17:09)

Being Fluent – and Protective – in Black Culture (18:20 – 21:33)

• Nancy shares how basketball granted her deep connections and responsibilities in Black communities, underlining her protective instincts and desire to bust stereotypes about athletes as fathers and men.
  • “There are good men... The myth that black, Latino, any of these different athletes, they’re not good fathers. They are hella great fathers.” — Nancy Lieberman (19:42)

On Women’s Basketball’s Recent Explosion and Next Generation (21:33 – 26:01)

• Nancy discusses her relationships with younger stars like Caitlin Clark, the evolution of the women’s game, and the importance of “paid pioneers” in the NIL era.
  • “Thank you for what you’re doing for women’s sports. I was an unpaid pioneer, y’all. With NILs, you’re paid pioneers.” — Nancy Lieberman (23:41)
• Touches on defending young players like Caitlin Clark in some generational disputes (e.g. with Sheryl Swoopes), emphasizing her role as a celebrator and protector of newer generations.

2. Napheesa Collier: Building Her Own Legacy (28:27 – 59:08)

Unrivaled: Creating Opportunity for Women Athletes (28:34 – 30:48)

• Collier explains how she and Breanna Stewart co-founded “Unrivaled,” a new league designed so women athletes can earn lucrative salaries stateside, forge generational wealth, and control their branding rather than going overseas.
  • “The explosion that is happening in women’s sports... it feels like everyone is capitalizing off of that except for the people, the women who are playing.” — Napheesa Collier (29:10)
• Notes the importance of amenities that promote a professional experience: childcare centers, top-tier training and recovery facilities, “nice to haves” like makeup and esthetician rooms, and meaningful salaries (38:04).

Discovering Talent and Leadership (30:48 – 34:35)

• Received her first college scholarship in 8th grade, nearly signed on the spot until her dad convinced her to wait.
• Leadership journey: Once a reluctant, quiet leader, she intentionally grew into her vocal role, especially on the Minnesota Lynx under Sylvia Fowles’s mentorship.
  • “I was really uncomfortable with confrontation... I started building the vocal side of it more when I was in Minnesota.” — Napheesa Collier (32:17)

The Work of Speaking as a Leader (34:48 – 37:17)

• Describes the challenge and effort of becoming more assertive and audible—how she learned to change her voice’s pitch and projection to communicate on the court.
  • “Growing up, I would say I was pretty shy... in college... it was exhausting for me to talk. Now, it’s so natural.” — Napheesa Collier (35:49)

Balancing Player and Executive Roles

• Collier navigates the demands of being both a top athlete and a co-league founder, plus working with her husband/business partner Alex, who helped her develop professionally and personally.
  • “I defer to him on the business side... he defers to me on the player experience side, because I know that.” — Napheesa Collier (40:13)

Personal Journey in the Game (44:22 – 45:53)

• Never set out to be a pro basketball player—aspirations evolved step by step, from earning a college scholarship to embracing professional life as it came.

Overcoming Doubt and the Power of Mental Strength (45:53 – 50:58)

• Collier describes her battles with doubt—preseason slumps, adjusting to the WNBA—but values her ability to recognize and address mental struggles.
  • “That’s the feeling I don’t like: not being confident in what you’re doing. It makes you second guess everything.” — Napheesa Collier (46:03)
• Argues that basketball (and elite performance) is 80% mental, outperforming even more physically gifted athletes with her mentality.
  • “I believe I’m the best when I’m out there... Sports is 80, 20 mental and physical.” — Napheesa Collier (49:49)

On Anger as Motivation and Handling Defeat (52:01 – 54:59)

• After a painful finals loss, Collier channelled anger into focus and self-betterment.
  • “I play better when I’m mad, because it makes me really focused.” — Napheesa Collier (54:12)
• Uses stoicism on court to avoid showing opponents when she’s angered but uses it as internal fuel.

The Joy of Building Community & Legacy (55:01 – 57:42)

• The deep camaraderie among her Unrivaled team reminds her of college—small rosters create a singular bond.
• Takes immense pride in creating opportunities for women athletes, hoping true fulfillment will come when pay and conditions for female players across the board improve.
  • “I think I’ll feel fulfilled when we see those contracts change and Unrivaled keeps going... changing what it means to be a woman’s athlete.” — Napheesa Collier (57:07)

Drive for Excellence: Its Roots and Risks (57:42 – end)

• Collier is hard on herself—sees it as an essential driver for greatness, while openly acknowledging the “toxic” side of perpetual self-criticism.
  • “If you’re so forgiving with yourself, how are you going to push yourself to be better?” — Napheesa Collier (58:03)
• Her internal motivation comes from always wanting to recapture the feeling of being the best, even as competition stiffens.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On mentorship and resilience:
  "He taught me to respect everybody but fear nobody... Humility is confidence, arrogance is not." — Nancy Lieberman, on Muhammad Ali (07:41)
• On opportunity and equality:
  “He celebrates me, doesn’t tolerate me... You don’t know how good somebody can be if you don’t give them a chance.” — Nancy Lieberman, on Ice Cube and the Big3 (17:09)
• On the rise of women’s sports:
  “I was an unpaid pioneer, y’all. With NILs, you’re paid pioneers. And I’m super happy for you.” — Nancy Lieberman (23:41)
• On controlling your own narrative:
  “The explosion that is happening in women’s sports... it feels like everyone is capitalizing off of that except for the women who are playing.” — Napheesa Collier (29:10)
• On mental strength:
  “Sports is 80, 20 mental and physical.” — Napheesa Collier (49:49)
• On turning anger into fuel:
  “I play better when I’m mad, because it makes me really focused.” — Napheesa Collier (54:12)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:57] — Nancy Lieberman interview begins: background, mentors, toughness.
• [04:24] — Meeting Muhammad Ali; lessons on race and character.
• [08:53] — Comebacks, motherhood, and forging leadership.
• [12:09] — Breaking barriers in coaching; sacrifice and responsibility.
• [15:59] — The Ice Cube call; coaching the Big3.
• [18:20] — The influence of basketball; integration, fluency, and protection.
• [21:33] — Women’s basketball’s boom: role as mentor for stars like Caitlin Clark.
• [28:27] — Napheesa Collier interview begins.
• [29:24] — The creation and purpose of “Unrivaled.”
• [32:17] — Leadership growth; overcoming discomfort with confrontation.
• [34:48] — The vocal work of leadership.
• [38:04] — Building the Unrivaled league experience.
• [40:13] — Balancing player, executive, and partnership roles.
• [45:08] — Evolving ambitions, falling into basketball stardom.
• [45:53] — Overcoming doubt, stress, and the value of mental resilience.
• [52:01] — Coping with defeat; using anger as a motivation.
• [55:01] — Building community on a small team.
• [57:07] — Fulfillment through changing the future for women athletes.
• [58:03] — Self-criticism and the hunger for greatness.

Tone and Feel

The conversations are warm, funny, and occasionally raw, honoring the remarkable journeys both women have taken—replete with heartfelt reminiscence, sharp wit, and clear-eyed advocacy for progress and equality. Nancy Lieberman’s boldness and Collier’s drive shine through, offering listeners both inspiration and insight into what it takes to change the game, both on and off the court.