The WNBA's Coaching Crisis: Is NBA Experience Now a Must-Have?
The 2025 WNBA Finals showcased a striking trend: both head coaches had spent a combined 21 years as NBA assistants. Even more telling, the league’s Coach of the Year honoree had a decade of NBA staff experience. With Becky Hammon (Las Vegas Aces), Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix Mercury), and Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries) achieving success, a pressing question arises: Is prior NBA experience becoming a de facto requirement for WNBA head coaching jobs?
But here’s where it gets controversial…
According to insider reports from The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer and The IX Sports’ Jackie Powell, multiple WNBA teams are actively prioritizing candidates with NBA ties. Currently, five franchises—the New York Liberty, Dallas Wings, Seattle Storm, and expansion teams Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire—are hunting for new head coaches. Notably, the Liberty, Tempo, and Fire are reportedly zeroing in on NBA-connected candidates.
Lindsey Harding, a rising star in coaching circles, exemplifies this shift. After a nine-year WNBA playing career, Harding transitioned to the NBA, serving as head coach of the G League’s Stockton Kings and earning 2024 G League Coach of the Year honors. Now an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers, she’s a top contender for multiple WNBA vacancies. Similarly, Kristi Toliver—a WNBA veteran turned NBA assistant—reportedly “interviewed strongly” for the Liberty job after stints with the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks.
And this is the part most people miss…
While NBA experience is gaining traction, the trend isn’t universally applauded. Powell highlights concerns about the dismissal of “WNBA lifers” like Sandy Brondello (Liberty) and Noelle Quinn (Storm), sparking fears that front offices are sidelining the very figures who built the league’s foundation. The Mercury’s hire of Tibbetts—who had no prior women’s basketball experience—drew criticism, yet it also opened doors for hybrid candidates like Toliver.
Is this progress or gentrification?
The debate intensifies when considering whether NBA-tested coaches bring innovation or simply edge out homegrown talent. Becky Hammon’s trajectory—16 seasons as a WNBA player followed by eight years as an NBA assistant—blurs the lines, proving hybrid backgrounds can thrive. But Powell raises a critical point: Will younger coaches, especially women and former players, lose opportunities if NBA resumes dominate hiring?
Kristi Toliver addressed this tension, advocating for cross-league learning while stressing the need to uplift women in coaching. “We have to be each other’s greatest supporters,” she told Powell. Meanwhile, former Atlanta Dream coach Tanisha Wright is now seeking NBA connections to bolster her resume, signaling a pragmatic adaptation to the trend.
The counterargument no one wants to hear…
Despite the NBA’s gravitational pull, the WNBA coaching pool remains deep with proven women’s basketball experts. Karl Smesko (Florida Gulf Coast), Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx), and Stephanie White (Connecticut Sun) exemplify elite coaches who’ve succeeded without NBA ties. Yet, as Powell notes, the league’s high stakes—and short leashes—could deter college coaches from making the jump. Dallas’s abrupt firing of Chris Koclanes mid-season underscores this volatility.
The wild card no one’s talking about…
A looming lockout threatens to disrupt hiring altogether. Fischer reports some teams may delay decisions to save costs, while others argue securing a coach now—regardless of a work stoppage—could provide a strategic edge. This uncertainty mirrors the league’s growing pains as it navigates revenue disputes and evolving expectations.
So, where do you stand?
Is the NBA pipeline a necessary evolution for the WNBA’s competitiveness, or does it risk erasing the league’s identity? Should front offices prioritize innovation over institutional knowledge? Drop your thoughts below—let’s debate!
