USC’s women’s basketball coach says her philosophy with recruits hasn’t changed in the era of transfer portal, revenue sharing and NIL.

If there were to be a Mount Rushmore of the greatest Cavaliers of all time, Dawn Staley would likely be on it. The women’s basketball star was the centerpiece of Virginia’s program from 1988-1992 and went on to become one of the greatest coaches of all time at South Carolina, winning three national titles with the Gamecocks.

That job offer didn’t materialize, and the Knicks ultimately leaned into a veteran NBA coach in Mike Brown. At SEC media day, Staley was direct and honest in saying she didn’t expect to see a female head NBA coach in her lifetime. “I don’t. And I hope I’m wrong,” Staley said.

South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley warned that organizations should be prepared to contend with media scrutiny if they decide to hire a female head coach.

The New York Knicks are moving forward with Mike Brown as their head coach, but they nearly made South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley their succe

The three-time national champion head coach of South Carolina was a candidate for the New York Knicks coaching job after Tom Thibodeau was fired in early June. She interviewed with the Knicks front office this summer, but New York decided to hire longtime NBA coach Mike Brown.

Dawn Staley spoke at length about her Knicks interview, as well as her desire to become the first female NBA coach.

The University of South Carolina unveiled a statue of legendary coach Dawn Staley in April this year. Staley earned the honor after leading the Gamecocks to three NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball championships (2017, 2022 and 2024). The statue greets basketball fans on the corner of Senate St. and Lincoln St. in the City of Columbia.