December 26, 2021
Daily Briefing — Dec. 26, 2021: Becky Hammon, WNBA coach? It’s more likely than you think
By Em Adler
The Daily Briefing is back, with some news about Becky Hammon
Happy Boxing Day! Welcome to The Next’s Daily Briefing, featuring the W Roundup. We’ve got Becky Hammon in the news.
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W Roundup
Las Vegas, New York: San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon is being courted by her former teams, the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty, for their head coach openings, per The Athletic’s Chantel Jennings and famed MNBA Scoops Guy Shams Charania. The two aren’t major WNBA Scoop People (combined four prior Scoops), though noted WNBA Scoops Guy Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports TV confirmed that there have at least been “discussions.” Williams added that Las Vegas has not been in discussion with any prospective coaches besides Hammon, indicating that current head coach Bill Laimbeer’s preference in Aces leadership goes:
- Laimbeer at general manager, Hammon at head coach
- Ongoing Vacancy at general manager, Laimbeer at head coach
- Ongoing Vacancy at general manager, Joe Shmoe at head coach
How much you believe that Hammon, an assistant coach at arguably the greatest dynasty in modern professional basketball for eight years and the top assistant to the sport’s greatest-ever professional coach for the past four, comes down to personal opinion. Hammon’s current salary is certainly at the top end of MNBA assistants, meaning around the high six figures. Given that the average revenue per W team is about $5 million, it’s hard to imagine its highest-paid head coach eclipsing Hammon’s current salary.
But that’s just my two cents. Betting against Shams’ and Williams’ Scoops is not a winning long-term strategy.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Daily Briefing, when we’ll have games to talk about again.
Written by Em Adler
Em Adler (she/they) covers the WNBA at large and college basketball for The Next, with a focus on player development and the game behind the game.
