Dawn Staley‘s name appearing in NBA conversations this offseason sent a ripple through the basketball world.
Fresh off guiding South Carolina to another national title, she suddenly found herself linked to the New York Knicks’ head coaching vacancy after the team parted ways with Tom Thibodeau in June.
For a brief moment, the idea that one of college basketball‘s most accomplished coaches could step into one of the sport’s highest-pressure jobs felt entirely possible.
Reports surfaced that Staley had sat down with Knicks executives to discuss the opening, marking a rare and groundbreaking opportunity for a woman in professional men’s basketball.
Although the organization ultimately chose Mike Brown for the position, the conversation itself carried enormous significance.
Staley opens up about the experience
Staley later spoke about the experience, describing her meeting with Knicks president Leon Rose and executive vice president William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley as thoughtful but deeply complex.
She appreciated that they recognized the symbolic and cultural weight attached to hiring a woman for a head coaching job in the NBA.
“It’s not just hiring the first female coach. Because one, if I’m the Knicks coach and you have a five-game losing streak, it’s not going to be about the losing streak. It’s going to be about being a female coach. So you as an organization and a franchise, you have to be prepared about that and strong enough to endure those types of instances when you’re a female coach,” Staley said.
Staley made clear that while the opportunity would be historic, the pressure and public attention would likely be relentless.
The NBA has never had a female head coach, despite growing diversity among assistants and front-office staff. For years, many expected Becky Hammon, a former San Antonio Spurs assistant and current head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, to become the first.
Hammon interviewed with multiple NBA franchises, including the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and Portland Trail Blazers, but none extended an offer. She has since built a dominant career in the WNBA, leading the Aces to consecutive championships and solidifying her place among basketball’s elite coaches.
During SEC Media Day this week, Staley was asked whether she believed she would see a woman hired as an NBA head coach within her lifetime. Her response was blunt and tinged with disappointment.
“I don’t. And I hope I’m wrong,” Staley said.
The comment struck a chord across basketball communities. For all the optimism about progress, Staley’s words underscored the persistence of institutional barriers in professional sports.
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