Becky Hammon is a hot name on the coaching circuit once again. This time it’s the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA who have reportedly reached out to the Spurs assistant coach to see if they can lure her away from San Antonio.
Hammon, who was a finalist for the Trailblazers head coaching job this offseason, has long shouldered the expectations of becoming the NBA’s first female head coach. While she hasn’t been shy in the past about her desire to one day coach a team in the NBA, taking the head coaching position with a WNBA franchise could be the next step towards one day accomplishing that goal.
A product of the Gregg Popovich coaching tree, Hammon had previously turned down offers to coach the Florida Women’s Basketball team, and Colorado State Men’s Basketball team in the past to stay on with the Spurs as an assistant. With little left to prove at the NBA level in her current position, perhaps the next best step for her is to showcase her ability to steer a WNBA franchise to postseason glory in order to finally crack the “old boys club” of the NBA.
Las Vegas and New York each offer different opportunities for the former WNBA All-Star point guard should she choose to accept a coaching position. The Aces possess perennial All-Stars Liz Cambage and A’ja Wilson and are on the cusp of finally breaking through and winning a championship. The Liberty meanwhile are a young team on the rise, with All-World point guard Sabrina Ionescu whom Hammon could mentor as they try to bring New York its first ever championship.
Then there’s also the very real possibility that Hammon turns down both positions if she feels as though she’s close to getting a coveted NBA head coaching position. Gregg Popovich is now 72 years old, and has begun stepping away from some of the non-Spurs related activities he was involved with over the years, including the USA Olympic Basketball Team. Perhaps there’s a handshake agreement already in place for her to take over for her longtime mentor once he finally calls it quits on his storied career. Hammon has the luxury of choosing her own path at this point and isn’t going to be swayed by the optics of a situation.
What’s interesting to note however, is that while Hammon may have been the first woman to earn an NBA coaching position, she’s no longer the only one. Including Hammon there are now 8 female coaches in the NBA ranks, meaning Hammon no longer needs to bear the mantle of being the only chance to one day see a female head coach in the association.
Speculation is that Hammon will make a decision, one way or the other, by the time free agency opens for WNBA franchises in January.