Dawn Staley addresses importance of having WNBA, NBA clause in her new contract
Dawn Staley became the highest-paid coach in women’s basketball when she signed a new contract with South Carolina on Friday.
The extension bumped her pay from $3.2 million to $4 million this year and will see her annual compensation rise to $5.25 million at the end of the contract in 2029-2030.
One of the highlights of the new contract was an updated buyout section. If Staley decides to leave South Carolina she would owe the university 100% of the remaining compensation left on her deal through 2030.
If Staley left for a head coaching job in the NBA or WNBA though, she would owe USC nothing. After South Carolina’s 101-60 win over Oklahoma Sunday, Staley was asked why it was important to have that clause in her contract.
“I don’t know, I might up and leave,” Staley joked.
Staley went on to say she has no plans of leaving South Carolina and that the updated buyout was a result of a “give and take” in negotiations.
“You gotta have something, it’s a give and take,” Staley said. “It was important for me to have a guaranteed contract. It’s important. But in having a guaranteed contract, you got to give (USC) something.”
Staley has built South Carolina into a perennial contender during her tenure. The Gamecocks have tallied three national titles, eight SEC championships and over 450 wins under Staley.
Naturally, that sort of success leads to suitors from every level of basketball. Regardless, Staley reaffirmed she has no plans to leave South Carolina for any other job – regardless of what level it’s at.
“I would never leave here to go take another college job,” Staley said. “It’s nothing– like I have the best of the best here. And I really don’t have any– I don’t have a passion for the next level. I don’t. I would have been gone. Like, seriously.”
