Dawn Staley, the legendary coach of South Carolina women’s basketball, has never been one to shy away from breaking barriers. But her most recent revelation on the “Post Moves” podcast with Aliyah Boston and Candace Parker has sent ripples through both the NBA and women’s basketball communities. On August 27, 2025, Staley confirmed that she formally interviewed for the New York Knicks’ head coaching job earlier this summer—and made it clear that, had the franchise offered her the position, she would have accepted, no questions asked.
“I would have had to do it, not just for me, but for women. To break that door open,” Staley declared during the podcast. “It’s the New York Knicks. I’m from Philly. But it’s the freaking New York Knicks.” Her words captured not just the weight of the opportunity but the significance such a move would have held for gender equality in professional sports.
The Knicks’ coaching search was one of the NBA’s most closely watched sagas of the summer. After parting ways with Tom Thibodeau, the storied franchise cast a wide net, interviewing a mix of seasoned NBA assistants and head coaches—including Taylor Jenkins, James Borrego, and Micah Nori—before ultimately settling on Mike Brown, a veteran with nearly three decades of NBA experience. Staley was the lone woman among the candidates, and her presence in the process was a statement in itself.
Staley, 55, is no stranger to the spotlight. With three national titles at South Carolina, a 475-110 overall coaching record, and a Hall of Fame playing career, she’s become one of the most respected figures in all of basketball. Her resume rivals that of any coach—men’s or women’s—and her leadership has shaped the Gamecocks into a perennial powerhouse, drawing top recruits like three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson.
Yet, despite her credentials, Staley believes her candidness during the Knicks’ interview may have cost her the historic opportunity. “I shot myself in the foot by being inquisitive and asking all those darn questions,” she admitted on the podcast. She pressed Knicks leadership on whether they were truly prepared for the scrutiny and challenges that would come with hiring the NBA’s first full-time female head coach.
“You’re going to be asked questions that don’t come up if you’re a male coach,” Staley explained. “There’s going to be extra attention, and you have to be ready for it. That made them think, ‘Maybe she’s right.’ I felt the energy shift after that.” Her transparency, she believes, may have convinced the Knicks brass that the franchise wasn’t quite ready to handle the added media attention and societal questions such a hire would spark.
Staley’s approach was far from adversarial. Instead, she challenged the Knicks to reflect on their own organizational culture and readiness for change. “They wanted a team. They wanted inclusiveness with management and the coaches,” she recounted. “They wanted to feel like a team, a closely knit franchise. And their answer was really, ‘No.’ But if you don’t hire anybody different, how are you going to get that?”
It’s a rhetorical question that lingers well beyond the walls of Madison Square Garden. Staley’s willingness to confront these topics head-on underscores her commitment not just to her own career, but to the advancement of women in sports leadership roles. “Would I take any NBA job? No,” she clarified. “But I will say this, the NBA has to be ready for a female head coach. You can’t just interview somebody and say, ‘We’re going to hire her.’”
Staley isn’t new to NBA interest. In 2021, she interviewed for the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coaching vacancy, though the job ultimately went to Chauncey Billups. This time, however, she’s unequivocal about what the Knicks job would have meant. “If the Knicks would’ve offered me the job, I would’ve had to do it. Not just for me. It’s for women. Just to break open that. Because it’s the New York Knicks. And I’m from Philly. But it’s the freaking New York Knicks. And I did say that in the interview.”
Her comments have ignited a broader conversation about the NBA’s readiness for a female head coach. The league has made strides in hiring women as assistant coaches, but the top job remains elusive. Staley’s interview process highlights both the progress made and the barriers that persist. “The NBA has to be ready for a female head coach. You can’t just interview and say, ‘We are going to hire her,’” she reiterated. “Because here’s the thing, I think I probably lost a job [with the Knicks] by asking this question—or I had a series of questions I asked them.”
For the Knicks, the decision to hire Mike Brown was consistent with recent NBA trends favoring veteran coaches or those with extensive league experience. Brown, who previously led the Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers, brings a wealth of knowledge to New York’s bench. Yet, the mere fact that Staley was in the candidate pool signals a growing openness to non-traditional hires, even if the final leap has yet to be made.
Staley’s future at South Carolina remains secure, at least for now. Earlier this year, she signed a contract extension through the 2029-30 season, making her the highest-paid women’s college basketball coach in history. The Gamecocks, fresh off their 13th straight NCAA tournament appearance and a runner-up finish in the national championship game, are set to open the 2025-26 campaign at home against Grand Canyon on November 3.
Still, the question lingers: Will the NBA—or any major men’s professional league—be ready to break the glass ceiling at the head coaching level? Staley’s experience with the Knicks suggests that while the door is ajar, it’s not yet fully open. Her willingness to challenge the status quo, even at her own expense, ensures that the conversation won’t fade quietly into the background.
As the Knicks move forward under Mike Brown and Staley continues her reign in Columbia, the sports world is left to wonder when—rather than if—a woman will finally get the chance to lead an NBA team. For now, Dawn Staley’s boldness has set the stage for the next chapter in the ongoing push for equality in sports leadership, leaving fans and executives alike pondering what could have been—and what still might be.
