Where is your optimism on seeing a woman coaching in the NBA sometime in the next five to 15 years? Candace Parker: I have high optimism with that. Organizations are already interviewing, and I think they’re going to start hiring. I think if I were to wager, which I’m not — I repeat WNBA and NBA, I’m not wagering a bet! But if I were to wager a bet, I would say (Pelicans assistant coach) Teresa Weatherspoon is probably the next in line, in my opinion, of someone that is able to do it. I think there’s a number of women that are capable, but it’s who’s going to be the first? That will set the standard for the rest. The hiring of Jeff Saturday (by the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts) actually increases my optimism that it will happen in the next five years.
Teresa Weatherspoon Rumors
The toll grew so heavy that Williamson could hardly mask the strain. After a home game one night, as he walked out of the Smoothie King Center, he ran into Pelicans assistant coach Teresa Weatherspoon, a close friend and confidant. “Hey, are you O.K.?” she asked. “No,” Williamson replied, “I’m not.” “And when he said no, he just fell into my arms,” Weatherspoon says. A long conversation followed—part counseling session, part pep talk, unconditional support mixed with moments of tough love. And many tears shed along the way.
Tim Hardaway, presented by Isiah Thomas (’00), Mitch Richmond (‘14), Chris Mullin (‘11), Yolanda Griffith (‘21), Nate Archibald (‘91) Manu Ginobili, presented by Tim Duncan (’20) Lindsay Whalen, presented by Dawn Staley (‘13), Charles Barkley (’06) Swin Cash, presented by Tamika Catchings (‘20), Teresa Weatherspoon (‘19), Tina Thompson (‘18), Isiah Thomas (’00), Geno Auriemma (‘06) Bob Huggins, presented by Jerry West (‘80), Rod Thorn (‘18) George Karl, presented by Roy Williams (‘07), Gary Payton (‘13), Bobby Jones (‘19)
Shams Charania: Sources: Basketball Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon is removing her name from consideration for head coaching job with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury – after the New Orleans Pelicans successfully push to keep their well-regarded assistant coach.
Heading into this offseason, several NBA sources said the expectation was that most of the head coach openings could be filled by African Americans. According to NBA sources, the list of African American assistant coaches who interviewed for jobs included the Los Angeles Lakers’ Jason Kidd and Phil Handy, the Dallas Mavericks’ Jamahl Mosley, the Denver Nuggets’ Wes Unseld Jr., the Golden State Warriors’ Mike Brown, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Sam Cassell, the Milwaukee Bucks’ Darvin Ham and Charles Lee, the Brooklyn Nets’ Udoka and Jacque Vaughn, the Clippers’ Billups, the New Orleans Pelicans’ Teresa Weatherspoon and the Timberwolves’ David Vanterpool. Sources said Dawn Staley, USA Basketball women’s head coach and University of South Carolina women’s head coach, was another African American considered for NBA openings, but she was focused on the Olympics.
Sources say other Black NBA assistant coaches who are considered candidates include the Los Angeles Lakers’ Jason Kidd, the Mavericks’ Jamahl Mosley, the Nuggets’ Wes Unseld Jr., the Golden State Warriors’ Mike Brown, the Philadelphia 76ers’ Sam Cassell, the Brooklyn Nets’ Ime Udoka and Jacque Vaughn, the Pelicans’ Teresa Weatherspoon and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ David Vanterpool.
Ime Udoka the favorite in Pelicans coaching search?
Scott Kushner: Odds from BetOnline: Next New Orleans Pelicans Head Coach Ime Udoka – 4/1, Jacque Vaughn -5/1, Teresa Weatherspoon -5/1, Jason Kidd -11/2, Charles Lee – 6/1, Fred Vinson – 6/1, Terry Stotts – 7/1, Becky Hammon-9/1, Chauncey Billups -10/1, Wes Unseld Jr. -12/1, Jeff Van Gundy – 25/1
