A few years ago, if you told an NBA assistant coach that the WNBA might be their next career move, they’d likely laugh and check if you’d hit your head. But suddenly, thanks to a star named Caitlin Clark and some eye-popping salaries, these same coaches are now scrolling through LinkedIn to see if any WNBA jobs are open.
One anonymous NBA assistant recently received a text from his agent with an unexpected question: “Would you be interested in the WNBA?” His reaction? “I’m dug in on my team… but, with how much they’re paying coaches, it’s interesting.”
Interesting, indeed. Apparently, the WNBA isn’t just serving up buzzer-beaters and Aliyah Boston blocks anymore—it’s handing out million-dollar checks to its coaches. The rumor mill has the LA Sparks dangling $2 million for the right candidate. That’s not a typo. And just to make it spicier, the Indiana Fever—home to the Caitlin Clark—are looking for a new head coach after axing Christie Sides despite her team’s surprising playoff run.
Oh, and did we mention Clark might just be the most magnetic player in basketball, women’s or men’s? The Fever drew bigger TV numbers last season than many NBA teams, including over a dozen games that hit more than a million viewers. Yes, for WNBA regular-season games. Apparently, when Clark’s on the floor, even your grandma who’s never seen a basketball before is tuning in.
So, if coaching Clark and her squad of budding superstars wasn’t tempting enough, imagine doing it with a seven-figure salary in your pocket. Coaches are practically foaming at the mouth. And if they’re not? They should be.
Yet, there’s a snag. The WNBA finishes its season in the fall, just as the NBA and college basketball seasons are revving up. For some, the timing’s all wrong. Most NBA assistants are elbows-deep in film sessions, while college coaches are gearing up for a season they’ve spent months planning for. But when a WNBA team is throwing million-dollar offers your way, those spreadsheets suddenly start looking a lot less important.
And let’s not forget the irony here. Historically, WNBA coaches were recycled faster than discount tires, with lower salaries and less fanfare. Meanwhile, NBA assistants were gunning for the ultimate prize: an NBA head coach spot. Now, some of those same NBA assistants are whispering in the back hallways about WNBA gigs like they’re the new hot trend.
But who’s to blame them? Look at what Becky Hammon has done. She parlayed her assistant coaching gig with the San Antonio Spurs into a WNBA head coaching job, complete with a championship ring and a cool million-dollar salary. Suddenly, the W doesn’t look so bad.
The surge in attention (and cash) for the WNBA comes just as the league is grappling with a major coaching shuffle. Seven of the 12 WNBA teams fired their head coach this offseason, leading to a bizarre game of musical chairs. It’s almost like team owners woke up, looked at the Liberty’s recent title run, remembered they have billions of dollars, and decided: “Yeah, we should probably start caring about winning.”
Maybe Clark and her freakish popularity have something to do with that. Maybe it’s the Tsais in New York showing how spending big can pay off. Or maybe it’s just a strange confluence of factors. Either way, the coaching market in the WNBA has never been hotter.
It’s an open secret that former Connecticut Sun coach Stephanie White is the frontrunner for the Fever gig. But would it be wild to think some top college coaches might be eyeing the WNBA from the corner of their eyes, especially if Clark’s involved? Probably not.
For now, WNBA jobs are suddenly a hot commodity—whether it’s because of the star power, the cash, or both. Who knows? Maybe soon we’ll see NBA coaches openly competing to take on Clark & Co., because apparently, coaching in the W is no longer just a “backup plan.”
So, if you’re an NBA assistant who still hasn’t gotten that coveted head coach call-up, you might want to take a cue from your agent and start texting back.
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