In a powerful moment that has sent ripples throughout the professional sports world, South Carolina women’s basketball legend Dawn Staley has revealed that she interviewed for the New York Knicks’ head coaching position this summer. While the Knicks ultimately hired Mike Brown, Staley’s candidacy is a monumental step for representation and a clear signal that the gender barrier in high-level coaching is beginning to crumble. Staley herself said she would have accepted the job if it were offered, a move that would have made her the first woman ever to lead an NBA team.
Staley’s qualifications for the role are undeniable. She is a Hall of Fame player with three Olympic gold medals, a two-time Naismith National Player of the Year in college, and a five-time WNBA All-Star. As a coach, her record is even more impressive. She is a three-time national champion at the University of South Carolina (2017, 2022, and 2024), and she also led the U.S. women’s national team to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Her teams have a reputation for discipline, strategic brilliance, and developing top-tier talent, with 18 players drafted into the WNBA, including two number-one overall picks. Her career coaching record of 475-110 at South Carolina alone makes her one of the most successful coaches in the game.
The decision by the Knicks to interview her, along with other candidates like former Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, highlights a significant shift in the NBA. While women like Becky Hammon and Nancy Lieberman have served as assistants and summer league head coaches in the NBA, none have ever been given the top job. Staley’s consideration represents a growing recognition that coaching ability is a matter of skill, not gender.
Ultimately, the Knicks chose Mike Brown, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year winner. Brown’s resume, which includes leading the Sacramento Kings to a third-place finish and ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history in 2023, is equally impressive. However, Staley’s candidacy alone marks a victory. It paves the way for a new generation of women to be taken seriously as candidates for the highest-level coaching positions in men’s sports.
