On Monday news broke that Lindsey Harding, the Sacramento Kings’ G League coach, was expected to interview for the Charlotte Hornets head coaching job. If successful, Harding would become the NBA’s first-ever female head coach.
At just 39 years old, Harding has already made quite an impact as a coach. In her first season coaching the Sacramento’s G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings, Harding was voted the 2024 G League Coach of the Year.
Harding was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 WNBA draft. She played nine seasons in the league before joining the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings as a development coach.
The Hornets job has opened up because existing coach Steve Clifford will move into a front office role at the end of the season.
Charlotte has also received permission to interview Denver Nuggets assistant David Adelman, Sacramento Kings assistant Jordi Fernandez, Boston Celtics assistant Charles Lee and Phoenix Suns assistant Kevin Young, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
While Harding would become the NBA’s first-ever female head coach if hired, she would not be the first woman to interview for such a job.
Becky Hammon previously interviewed for head coaching roles after spending time as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs. But she ultimately took a job as the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, who are reigning back-to-back WNBA champions.
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