Dawn Staley’s name is surfacing in NBA coaching conversations again. This time, the timing feels different. Just days after Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks mutually agreed to part ways, The Athletic’s Christian Clark reported that one NBA executive “wouldn’t be shocked” if Dallas interviewed the South Carolina coach for its head coaching vacancy.

On the surface, it sounds like another speculative coaching-search connection. But with Masai Ujiri now running basketball operations in Dallas, league observers believe the possibility carries more weight than a normal rumor cycle.

Ujiri has a long history of wide-ranging coaching searches, progressive leadership decisions, and challenging conventional NBA hiring patterns. If the Mavericks seriously pursue Staley, the conversation quickly becomes bigger than a standard coaching vacancy.

Staley’s résumé already places her among the most accomplished basketball coaches in America regardless of gender. Since taking over South Carolina in 2008, she has transformed the program into a powerhouse with three national championships, multiple Final Four appearances, 10 SEC regular-season titles, and over 500 victories. According to Christian Clark of The Athletic, ” One NBA executive told The Athletic that it wouldn’t be shocking if the Mavericks wanted to interview Staley.”

The connection to Ujiri is especially important because he has already explored similar territory before. During Toronto’s coaching search in 2023, Ujiri seriously considered Becky Hammon before ultimately hiring Darko Rajaković.

Staley also already has NBA interview experience herself. In 2025, the New York Knicks formally interviewed her during their own coaching search before eventually hiring Mike Brown.  Earlier this year, South Carolina head coach even stated her intention of accepting the head coaching position in the NBA.

“I would have had to do it,” Staley said on the “Post Moves” podcast in April. “Not just for me. For women. To break (that door) open. I would have had to. It’s the New York Knicks.” During that interview, she also stated, “But I’ll say this, no NBA team is ready for a female coach right now.”

Beyond the accolades, Staley’s appeal comes from the reputation she has built as a culture-setter and player-development coach. Across college basketball and Team USA circles, she is widely respected for communication, accountability, leadership structure, and her ability to maximize star talent without losing locker room trust.

Those qualities could matter significantly for a Mavericks organization attempting to rebuild its identity around Cooper Flagg following the fallout of the Luka Dončić era.

Dallas officially hired Ujiri as president of basketball operations earlier this month after his lengthy run with the Toronto Raptors. The franchise is now undergoing a major structural reset after trading Dončić, firing general manager Nico Harrison, and finishing just 26-56 during the 2025-26 season.

Hiring a coach capable of developing Flagg while also stabilizing the organization culturally appears to be one of the front office’s biggest priorities.

Other Candidates Remain in the Mix Alongside Staley

Staley is not the only candidate connected to the vacancy. According to Clark, Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney, Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter, and Duke head coach Jon Scheyer are also among the names generating league discussion.

Scheyer’s connection to Cooper Flagg naturally stands out after coaching the former No. 1 pick during his lone season at Duke, while Sweeney and Nori both carry strong reputations as respected NBA assistants.

The final name, which is gaining more steam, seems to be that of Duke head coach Jon Scheyer. He previously coached the current Mavs star Cooper Flagg during his one-and-done season with the Blue Devils.  Whoever ultimately lands the job will inherit one of the NBA’s most unusual rebuilding situations.

Dallas still hopes Kyrie Irving can eventually return healthy, while Flagg is already viewed internally as the franchise cornerstone moving forward. The Mavericks are trying to balance long-term development with immediate relevance in a Western Conference that continues to get younger and deeper.

That larger balancing act is why the possibility of Staley becoming a serious candidate resonates beyond Dallas itself. The NBA has spent years discussing when the league might finally hire its first female head coach.

With Masai Ujiri now overseeing the Mavericks, many around the league suddenly believe the question may no longer feel hypothetical.