Olympian Nancy Lieberman dedicates WA’s 1st Dream Court for kids
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- Nancy Lieberman dedicated Washington’s first Dream Court in Prosser in 2025.
- The new court promotes youth recreation and community ties in Prosser, WA.
- Funding came from state grants, Nancy Lieberman Charities and local donors.
Basketball Hall of Famer and Olympian Nancy Lieberman brought her message of perseverance and community to Prosser this week, where she helped dedicate Washington’s first Dream Court at the Prosser Boys & Girls Club.
The outdoor court, one of more than 130 installed nationwide through Nancy Lieberman Charities, features sport court flooring, fiberglass hoops and pickleball striping.
Organizers said it will provide a safe place for youth to play and build lifelong memories while strengthening ties between the Boys & Girls Club, local schools and city leaders.
For Lieberman, now 67, the court represents more than just basketball.
“Why am I in Prosser? I’m here because I care. I’m here because you need to see me,” Lieberman told the crowd. “You see some of the great women in the WNBA, those are my sisters. You see some of the great players in the NBA, those are my brothers. Those are my friends.”
Lieberman grew up in Queens, New York, and rose from difficult beginnings to become the youngest Olympic basketball player in history when she earned a silver medal at age 18.
She went on to become only the second female assistant coach in NBA history with the Sacramento Kings, and later the first woman to win a championship as head coach of a men’s professional team in the Big Three league.
She is a two-time Big Three Coach of the year, a recipient of the Martin Luther King National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award and the Lee Steinberg Humanitarian Award, and will be inducted this year into both the Rucker Park Hall of Fame and the International Sports Hall of Fame.
Her message to Prosser students was one of resilience and self-belief.
“As a kid, I was told I wasn’t smart, that I couldn’t make it,” she said. “But sports changed my life. Nobody gets there alone. We all need somebody, and now, this court will give kids a place to find that support.”
Local leaders in the agriculturally-based town of about 6,100 located along the Yakima River west of the Tri-Cities echoed that sentiment.
“This Dream Court will provide students a safe place to learn and play, combined with joyous, lifelong memories,” said a Prosser School District representative. “This court belongs to our students, our families, and this community.”
Prosser Police Chief John Marcus said the new court symbolizes more than recreation.
“This Dream Court is fantastic. Who would have ever thought something like this would happen in Prosser? This is great for our kids, and a great partnership between the Boys & Girls Club and the city,” he said.
The $150,000 project was funded through a $75,000 state grant championed by Rep. Chris Corry, Rep. Jeremie Dufault and Sen. Nikki Torres, and $75,000 from Nancy Lieberman Charities, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and local donors.
As the ribbon was cut and kids prepared to take the first shots, Lieberman reminded them of their role in shaping the future.
“This court’s going to be here for the next 40, 50 years,” she said. “You’re the role models now. A smile, a high five, a kind word, you never know how much that can mean. This court is for you.”