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South Carolina

No, South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley will not coach the New York Knicks

by:Kevin Miller•07/01/25•

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South Carolina HC Dawn Staley vs. Texas
© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Over the weekend, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley was reported as a candidate for another head coaching gig. Per reporting from KnicksFanTV, the New York Knicks had contacted the long-time Gamecock boss about replacing the outgoing Tom Thibodeau, who the organization surprisingly fired following an Eastern Conference Finals run. On Monday, USC Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati confirmed that the Knicks had reached out to Staley.

Because Coach Staley’s South Carolina contract includes a clause that cancels her buyout if she were to make the jump to the NBA or WNBA, some around the basketball world wondered if anything would come of the report–especially considering the fact that this wasn’t Staley’s first time being floated for an NBA gig. The Portland Trailblazers interviewed her in 2021. Her name previously floated in association with both the Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers, as well.

As of Tuesday morning, that wondering can now stop. According to a report from The Athletic reporter James Edwards, Staley is not a finalist for the Knicks job. Though Staley impressed New York during their conversation, former NBA head coaches Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins seem to be at the top of the candidate list. Other candidates like former head coach James Borrego and top assistant Micah Nori are also in the mix.

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Making the NBA jump is something that Staley has previously said she didn’t have much interest in doing. In fact, she has said the professional ranks don’t intrigue her–neither the NBA nor the WNBA. She loves the college game and being a major voice in growing women’s basketball. Plus, money wouldn’t be much of a factor. Staley signed a five-year, $25.25 million contract extension in January that made her the highest-paid coach in the history of women’s basketball. The WNBA can’t come close to matching that, and the NBA median salary is only slightly above that number.

Though the outcome wasn’t truly in doubt, Dawn Staley will coach South Carolina women’s basketball this season. Once again, the Gamecocks will enter the year as a national title favorite and the potential preseason No. 1 team.

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