Dawn Staley, the electrifying head coach of the South Carolina women’s basketball team, has made her Philadelphia roots crystal clear since she stepped foot in Columbia to lead the Gamecocks. Often celebrating the Eagles, 76ers, Temple, and more, the national title-winning coach has love for the “City of Brotherly Love.”
That’s why the basketball world experienced a rumor firestorm when the WNBA announced its expansion on Monday, June 30, including a team in Philly. In the past, rumors have circulated about her role in WNBA expansion to the city, so will she depart to lead her new hometown team?
Dawn Staley’s WNBA Aspirations Surface on Social Media
The moment news broke about the WNBA’s expansion on Monday, basketball fans immediately began speculating about potential coaches for the new franchises. An editor shared the Associated Press headline announcing the league’s growth to 18 teams.
NEW YORK (AP) — WNBA to expand to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia over next 5 years, giving league 18 teams.
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 30, 2025
As fans debated coaching possibilities, Lulu Kesin replied with a revealing excerpt from Staley’s book. The quote from page 151 read: “Over the years, several WNBA teams have gauged my interest in coming on board. I don’t want to coach in the WNBA, never have. If I jump over, I want ownership.”
Page 151 of Dawn Staley’s book: “Over the years, several WNBA teams have gauged my interest in coming on board. I don’t want to coach in the WNBA, never have. If I jump over, I want ownership.” https://t.co/zJuGyjCK2O
— Lulu Kesin (@LuluKesin) June 30, 2025
The timing of Staley’s declaration aligns with the WNBA’s unprecedented growth. Expansion fees for Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia reportedly stand at $250 million each, representing a five-fold increase from the $50 million Golden State paid just two seasons ago.
The new franchises will join the league in staggered fashion: Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit will follow in 2029, and Philadelphia will launch in 2030, expanding the WNBA to 18 teams.
This financial landscape makes ownership particularly attractive for someone of Staley’s stature and business acumen. In an interview promoting her memoir with Philly sports icon Kylie Kelce, the wife of longtime Eagles OL Jason Kelce, the South Carolina coach reinforced her position when asked about potentially coaching a future Philadelphia team.
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Staley offered a definitive response when asked about her interest in leading a Philadelphia WNBA franchise on a June 19, 2025, episode of the “Not Gonna Lie” podcast.
“No. You know why? Because I’d rather be an owner. Okay. A lot of people think that coaching is my best attribute. I do think I’m a pretty good coach, but when I’m an owner, I could probably touch more people.”
Her ambitions reflect both personal goals and broader opportunities in women’s sports. Currently earning $4 million annually as the highest-paid women’s college basketball coach, Staley has proven her worth through exceptional on-court success.
Her salary demonstrates the value elite coaches bring to their programs. Yet, ownership represents an entirely different level of influence and financial opportunity in the rapidly expanding women’s professional sports landscape.
