2025 women's March Madness coaches who played in WNBA, from Dawn Staley to Kara Lawson
A champion will be crowned in the 2025 women's NCAA Tournament on April 6. A little more than a week later, some of the college basketball stars of March Madness will turn the page and start the next phase of their career at the 2025 WNBA draft.
Dawn Staley has been on this path before. Before Staley was the head coach of South Carolina women's basketball, she was a star athlete for the Virginia Cavaliers. She parlayed her collegiate success into a lengthy WNBA career and three Olympic gold medals with the U.S. women's team. Staley's experience at winning at all levels has translated to her coaching, helping South Carolina win three national championships in seven years, including the most recent one in 2024.
Staley is not the only coach in the 2025 women's March Madness field who has WNBA experience. From Staley to Duke's Kara Lawson, here's a list of former WNBA players coaching in the 2025 NCAA Tournament:
WOMEN'S MARCH MADNESS:Bracket predictions and expert picks for 2025 NCAA Tournament
MORE:Dawn Staley's dog gets unexpected gift from Women's March Madness opponent
Dawn Staley, South Carolina
- College: Virginia (1988–1992)
- WNBA: Charlotte Sting (1999–2005), Houston Comets (2005–06)
Staley led the Virginia Cavaliers to four NCAA tournaments, three Final Fours (1990-92) and one national championship game (1991) during her collegiate career. She was named the 1991 NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player – despite her team losing the national title to Pat Summitt and the Tennessee Volunteers – and the Naismith College Player of the Year for two consecutive years (1991, 1992).
Staley was drafted by the Charlotte Sting with the ninth overall pick of the 1999 WNBA draft. She earned six All-Star nods during her eight-year career and was later named to the WNBA's 10th and 15th Anniversary Teams in 2006 and 2011, respectively. Staley also won three Olympic gold medals with the Team USA (1996, 2000, 2004).
Staley began her head coaching career at Temple in 2000, while she was still playing in the WNBA and remained there for eight seasons, taking the Owls to the NCAA Tournament six times. She took over as the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecoks in 2008 and has led the Gamecocks to three national titles (2017, 2022, 2024).
Kara Lawson, Duke
- College: Tennessee (1999–2003)
- WNBA: Sacramento Monarchs (2003–09), Connecticut Sun (2010–13), Washington Mystics (2014–15)
Lawson played for legendary head coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee and went to one Sweet Sixteen (2001), one Final Four (2002) and two national championship games with the Lady Volunteers, although Tennessee dropped both title games to UConn.
Lawson was selected by the Detroit Shock with the fifth overall pick in 2003 and was immediately traded to the Sacramento Monarchs, where she was key member in the team's 2005 WNBA championship run. She earned an All-Star nod in 2007 and won gold with Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she had a team-high 15 points in the gold-medal game against Australia.
Lawson was an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics (2019-2020), before taking over as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils in 2020.
Niele Ivey, Notre Dame
- College: Notre Dame (1996–2001)
- WNBA: Indiana Fever (2001–04), Phoenix Mercury (2005), Detroit Shock (2005)
Ivey has been to college basketball’s promised land. She led the Fighting Irish to their first NCAA women's national championship in 2001 as a player under then-head coach Muffet McGraw and was named to the All-Tournament team. Ivey was then selected by Indiana Fever in the second round of the 2001 WNBA draft with the 19th overall pick.
Ivey spent five years in the league before transitioning into coaching. She got her coaching career started at Xavier as an assistant (2005-07) and returned to her alma mater as an assistant under McGraw (2007–19). Ivey took over as head coach in 2020 after McGraw retired.
Fun Fact: Ivey is the mother of son Jaden Ivey, who was drafted fifth overall by the Detroit Pistons in 2022.
Brooke Wyckoff, Florida State
- College: Florida State (1997–2001)
- WNBA: Orlando Miracle (2001–02), Connecticut Sun (2003-05), Chicago Sky (2006–09)
Wyckoff is another player who returned to coach at their alma mater. Wyckoff was a star forward at Florida State, picking up ACC All-Defensive Team honors in 2000 and 2001.
She was drafted with the 26th overall pick of the 2001 WNBA draft by the Orlando Miracle and spent time with the Connecticut Sun (after the team move from Orlando) and Chicago Sky during her eight-year career. She notably hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left in Game 2 of the 2005 WNBA Finals between the Sun and the Monarchs to send the game to overtime. The Sun went on to win the game, but lost the championship series, 3-1.
Wyckoff retired in 2009 after tearing her ACL and went into coaching. She joined her alma mater as an assistant coach under her former head coach, Sue Semrau. Wyckoff was named interim head coach of the Florida State women's basketball team during the 2020-21 season when Semrau had to take a leave of absence. She became the Seminoles full-time head coach in 2022 when Semrau retired.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 women's March Madness coaches who played in WNBA like Dawn Staley
Topics
-
Dawn Staley's dog gets unexpected gift from Women's March Madness opponent
Tennessee Tech women's basketball coach Kim Rosamond arrived ready for March Madness, including a nameplate for South Carolina coach Dawn Staley's dog.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
What will Dawn Staley wear for Women's March Madness opener? Her players have thoughts
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley hasn't picked out her outfit for her Women's March Madness opener yet, but her players want to weigh in.Yahoo Sports - 23h -
What South Carolina's Dawn Staley said when her dog Champ got his March Madness gift
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley called her dog Champ into the news conference at Women's March Madness media on Thursday to see his new gift.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Women's March Madness 2025: 35 players from Illinois who are part of the NCAA tournament
Women's March Madness: Here is a list of 35 college basketball players from Illinois who will play in the 2025 NCAA women's tournament.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Barack Obama March Madness bracket: Former President picks Dawn Staley, South Carolina to win
Former President Barack Obama released his men's and women's March Madness brackets on Thursday, with South Carolina winning the women's side. Here's more:Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Women's March Madness 2025: South Carolina's Dawn Staley, USC's Lindsay Gottlieb criticize selection committee
Not every NCAA Tournament team was happy with the bracket revealCBS Sports - 3d -
Staley: S. Carolina deserves No. 1 overall seed
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley lobbied for her team following a dominant run through the SEC tournament, culminating in a rout of No. 1 Texas in Sunday's championship game.ESPN - Mar. 9 -
How to watch the women’s March Madness first-round games on Friday: Schedule, odds and storylines
South Carolina looks to cut the championship nets for the third time in four seasons. Its title defense begins Friday, with Dawn Staley’s top-seeded Gamecocks one of 32 women’s basketball teams ...Yahoo Sports - 10h -
2025 March Madness brackets are set! Here's who is playing
March Madness is set to tip off after the teams have solidified their place on the famous NCAA brackets. NBC’s Sam Brock reports for TODAY on the teams to look out for.NBC News - 4d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in NCAA Tournament first round
It's Ohio State women's basketball vs Montana State in the first round of March Madness. Follow for scores, NCAA Tournament updates from the game.Yahoo Sports - 55m -
Golden Knights' Pavel Dorofeyev Records A Hat Trick As He Hits The 30-Goal Mark
The Vegas Golden Knights ran the Boston Bruins out of T-Mobile Arena last night, and it was headlined by Russian forward Pavel Dorofeyev.Yahoo Sports - 2h -
Blue Jays president confident Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will resign after rejecting deal: 'I think we're going to sign him'
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turned down a reported $500 million extension, but the Blue Jays still believe a deal will happen.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
Pogacar looking to end Milan-San Remo 'torment' with possible early attack up the Cipressa ascent
Tadej Pogacar has developed a love-hate relationship with the Milan-San Remo race over the years. “Milan-San Remo is probably the race that will torment me for the longest time,” the three-time ...Yahoo Sports - 6h -
Keys to the Game and Scouting Look: UConn
Here’s a look at what Coach of the Year candidate Dennis Gates’ 15th-ranked Missouri squad brings to the tableYahoo Sports - 7h
More in Sports
-
2025 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions: March Madness expert picks, upsets, winners, favorites to win
Our experts have filled out their brackets, so check who they predict will be cutting down the netsCBS Sports - 14m -
Marquette vs. New Mexico, March Madness predictions, time: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
SportsLine's model revealed its college basketball predictions for New Mexico Lobos vs. Marquette Golden Eagles on Friday in the first round of the 2025 NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 15m -
Rick Pitino vs. John Calipari: Rivalry once stoked in hate gets proper resurrection Saturday in March Madness
These two classic foes facing off one more time, with a Sweet 16 trip on the line, is the matchup of the weekendCBS Sports - 19m -
Purdue vs. McNeese odds, March Madness predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model
The SportsLine Projection Model has revealed its McNeese Cowboys vs. Purdue Boilermakers picks for the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on SaturdayCBS Sports - 19m -
2025 NCAA Tournament scores, schedule: March Madness bracket, game dates, locations, tip times, TV channels
Check out the master schedule for the NCAA Tournament so you can watch all the March Madness 2025 actionCBS Sports - 25m