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Dawn Staley's resume speaks for itself. She's a sixfold WNBA All-Star Game, Olympic gold medalist and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. She also coached the South Carolina women's basketball team to three NCAA Division I national championships.
Staley was one of the candidates that drew interest from the New York Knicks after Tom Thibodeau was relieved of his duties as head coach in early June. In the end, the Knicks decided hire Mike Brown.
This week, Staley spoke about her interview experience and raised questions about the NBA's willingness to hire a full-time female head coach.
Staley's argument was based on her belief that the franchise might not be willing to accept the inevitable scrutiny of a team's performance under a female coach.
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Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks watches the Iowa Hawkeyes play during the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on April 7, 2024 in Cleveland. (Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
“If I'm the coach of the Knicks and you're on a five-game losing streak, it's not the losing streak, it's the fact that you're a female coach,” Staley told reporters Tuesday.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley says she would take the Knicks job if they offered her
“So you as an organization and a franchise have to be prepared for that and strong enough to handle those situations where you're going to hire a female coach.
“If there are NBA franchises that are interested in hiring a woman … you have to be willing to take on that and everything that comes with it,” she added.
Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts against the Texas Longhorns during the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal game at Amalie Arena on April 4, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
When asked about her belief that a woman will become an NBA head coach in her lifetime, Staley replied: “No, I don’t believe so. And I hope I'm wrong.”
Staley also discussed her personal connections with Knicks executive Leon Rose and others.
“I’m a person who needs connection with people, right?” Staley said. “So I had a connection with him (Rose) and Wes Worldwide (Knicks senior adviser William Wesley), so I've known them my whole life. And it was a real interview. And I like to see what they talk about.”
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Don Staley participates with his alma mater after defeating the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes at Colonial Life Arena on November 24, 2023 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Jeff Blake/USA TODAY Sports)
Staley encouraged aspiring female NBA coaches to reach out to her.
“If there is anyone who is interested in this and interested in being the first female coach in the NBA or something like that, I have all the information. Come to me, I will prepare you for the interview.”
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UCONN Huskies defeated Staley's Gamecocks in the women's national championship game in April. South Carolina opens the 2025-26 regular season on Nov. 3 against Grand Canyon.
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