Dawn Staley Draws Knicks Interest Again, But NBA Still Not in Her Plans
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley once again finds herself at the center of NBA speculation, as reports surfaced that the New York Knicks reached out to her following the firing of Tom Thibodeau.
Staley’s coaching pedigree is unquestionable. She’s built South Carolina into a perennial national powerhouse, capturing three national championships and establishing a dominant legacy in women’s college basketball. On Monday, USC Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati confirmed the Knicks’ interest, telling On3’s Talia Goodman on X (formerly Twitter),
“If I were them, I would have called her, too.”
The Knicks wrapped up a strong season, finishing 51–31 and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell to the Indiana Pacers in six games. Despite the team’s success, Thibodeau was dismissed after failing to bring a title back to Madison Square Garden.
While this isn’t the first time Staley’s name has been linked to an NBA job — she previously interviewed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021 — the possibility of her becoming the first female head coach in NBA history continues to generate buzz.
Why the NBA and WNBA Don’t Tempt Staley
However, Staley has made it clear that her passion remains in college basketball. In her recent book, Uncommon Favor, she reflected on her decision to stay at the collegiate level following her 2021 interview with Portland:
“I appreciated the consideration, but, in the end, it reminded me why coaching young women remains the ideal scenario for me,” she wrote, as quoted by the Greenville News.
Even amid expansion plans in the WNBA — including a new franchise slated for her hometown of Philadelphia — Staley said coaching in the league has never been her goal.
“Over the years, several WNBA teams have gauged my interest in coming on board. I don’t want to coach in the WNBA, never have. If I jump over, I want ownership,” Staley wrote.
Committed to Columbia
Earlier this year, Staley signed a lucrative contract extension that will keep her at South Carolina through 2030, with her salary exceeding $4 million annually — making her one of the highest-paid coaches in all of college basketball.
Despite outside interest and historic implications, Dawn Staley remains committed to the program she built, preferring to mold future stars at South Carolina over pursuing opportunities in the NBA or WNBA.
