Dawn Staley: Is NBA ready for a female coach? The legend doubts

Dawn Staley and Her Perspective on the Possibility of Coaching in the NBA

Dawn Staley, a renowned figure in basketball, shared her thoughts on the possibility of a woman coaching an NBA team, drawing on her recent experience with the New York Knicks. With an impressive coaching resume, Staley was interviewed by the Knicks this year before they opted for Mike Brown. Although the coach felt genuinely interviewed, she expressed doubts about whether the league is ready for a historic appointment of this kind.

No, I don’t think it will happen in my lifetime. And I hope I’m wrong.

Dawn Staley

Staley, who has known team president Leon Rose and senior advisor William “Worldwide Wes” Wesley for three decades, accepted the interview. He revealed that he would have accepted the position if it had been offered to him. During the interview process, Staley emphasized that the Knicks needed to be prepared for the media attention that her hiring as the first female head coach in NBA history would generate.

If the Knicks have a five-game losing streak, it won’t be about the losing streak. It will be about being a coach. So, as an organization, as a franchise, you have to be prepared and be strong enough to ignore those kinds of situations when you’re going to hire a coach.

Dawn Staley

Despite her doubts, Staley believes the process with the Knicks gave her valuable information that could be useful for future candidates and NBA teams.

If anyone is interested in knowing and being the first NBA coach, I have all the information. Come see me, because I will prepare you for the interview.

Dawn Staley

Staley’s team, the Gamecocks, is currently ranked second in the Associated Press preseason poll, just behind UConn. Recently, it was announced that Chloe Kitts, a standout player from last season, will miss the entire year due to an injury. Staley stated that this injury is a big loss, but that it will not affect the team’s aspirations.

We are not afraid to start the season without Kitts. We are not going to miss a beat. Our players know that when we suffer any kind of injury, we believe in the system we have built. We believe in the players we have assembled.

Dawn Staley