South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has finally opened up about what really happened when an NBA franchise — the New York Knicks — reached out earlier this offseason. Reports had surfaced that the Knicks were seriously considering Staley for their head coaching vacancy after parting ways with Tom Thibodeau in early 2025.
In a recent interview on ESPN, later shared by @espnw on Instagram, Staley was asked if she had given serious thought to the possibility of becoming the first female head coach in NBA history. Her response reflected both humility and loyalty — her commitment, she made clear, remains with the Gamecocks.
“How much do I have that in me? Not really a whole lot,” Staley admitted. “But you know, I did the interview because I’ve known Leon Rose for 30 years. I’m a person that needs a connection to people, right? So, I have a connection to him and World Wide Wes. I’ve known them all my life, and it was a real interview. I wanted to see what they were talking about.”
While she was honored by the opportunity, Staley emphasized that her priority is mentorship — helping other women prepare to cross that historic line into the NBA.
“If there’s somebody that is interested in being the first female NBA coach, I’ve got all the information. Come see me — I’ll get you prepared for the interview,” she said. “And if there are NBA franchises interested in hiring a female, I’m here too. You’ve got to be ready to take on everything that comes with that, because it’s not just about hiring the first female coach.”
Despite the NBA buzz, Staley’s focus remains locked on Columbia, where she’s gearing up for another title run with South Carolina in the 2025–26 season. The Gamecocks are determined to reclaim their throne after a tough 82–59 loss to UConn in the 2024 national championship game. They finished last season 35–4 overall (15–1 SEC).
For those wondering about her future, Staley isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. She’s under contract with South Carolina through the 2029–30 season, following a lucrative extension signed in January. The deal pays her $4 million annually, with a $250,000 yearly increase built in — keeping one of college basketball’s most respected coaches firmly at home in Garnet and Black.
While an NBA opportunity could one day be on the table again, for now, Dawn Staley is exactly where she wants to be — leading the Gamecocks and inspiring the next generation of women to dream even bigger.
