Mavericks reportedly eyeing Dawn Staley for head coach vacancy

The Dallas Mavericks' coaching search took an interesting turn Friday with a name that has now twice surfaced in NBA conversations within a year.

South Carolina women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley, fresh off another deep NCAA Tournament run, could end up on Masai Ujiri's interview list as the franchise searches for Jason Kidd's replacement.

The link came from The Athletic's Christian Clark, who reported one NBA executive's view of the situation.

"One NBA executive told The Athletic that it wouldn't be shocking if the Mavericks wanted to interview Staley," Clark wrote.

Why Staley's NBA candidacy keeps surfacing and what makes Ujiri a logical fit

Staley sat for a formal interview with the New York Knicks last summer before the franchise hired Mike Brown. She said on the Post Moves podcast in August 2025 that she would have accepted the Knicks' job if offered, raising the public profile of her openness to an NBA jump.

Ujiri has a relevant track record; he interviewed former San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon for the Toronto Raptors' head coaching vacancy three years ago, clearing the air on whether he would consider female candidates.

Other candidates have already been floated too. Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney sits as one of the favorites in early reporting, in part because of his prior four seasons as a Mavericks assistant under Kidd. Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and Duke head coach Jon Scheyer are also in conversations.

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