Pokey Chatman: Scandal, Relationships & WNBA Career - What's Next?

Stan O'Hara II 10 May 2025

In the high-stakes world of professional sports, where victories are celebrated and defeats scrutinized, do personal lives ever truly remain private? The career of Dana "Pokey" Chatman, a name synonymous with women's basketball excellence, serves as a stark reminder that the personal and professional are often inextricably linked, with potentially devastating consequences.

Dana Pokey Chatman, born on June 18, 1969, in Ama, Louisiana, has carved a remarkable niche for herself in the world of women's basketball. Currently an assistant coach for the Seattle Storm in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), Chatman's journey is one marked by both triumph and controversy. A Louisiana native, she dedicated nearly 18 years of her life to Louisiana State University (LSU) as both a player and a coach, cementing her status within the state's basketball fraternity. Her zodiac sign is Gemini.

Category	Information
Full Name	Dana Pokey Chatman
Birth Date	June 18, 1969
Birth Place	Ama, Louisiana, USA
Age	55 years old (as of October 26, 2024)
Zodiac Sign	Gemini
Current Role	Assistant Coach, Seattle Storm (WNBA)
Former Roles	Head Coach: Indiana Fever (WNBA), Chicago Sky (WNBA), Louisiana State University (LSU)
Playing Career	LSU (1987-1991)
Relationship Status	Possibly Single (as of current records)
Additional Details	Known for her strategic acumen and player development skills. A professionally oriented person who takes an interest in basketball from a very early age.
Reference Link	Seattle Storm Official Website

Chatman's coaching career boasts an impressive trajectory. Before joining the Seattle Storm, she served as the head coach for both the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. The sixth head coach in Indiana Fever history, Pokey Chatman boasts an accomplished record with success at every level of womens basketball. After six seasons as head coach and general manager of the Chicago Sky, Chatman was named to her post with the Fever on Nov. However, it was her tenure as the head coach of the Louisiana State University (LSU) Lady Tigers that brought her both significant acclaim and profound challenges.

From 1987 to 1991, she spent the first 20 years of her adult life at LSU as a player. Between 2004 and 2007, she was an assistant coach for LSU under head coach Pokey Chatman. Her time spent with the Lady Tigers was successful, helping guide the team to three Final Fours and two. You know, Pokey Chatman, LSU's highly successful women's basketball coach. But on March 7, 2007, Chatman's career took an unexpected turn. She resigned from her position as head coach amidst allegations of a sexual relationship with a former player. Carla Berry, then the assistant coach of the Lady Tigers, reported the alleged relationship to Louisiana State University, setting off a chain of events that would forever alter Chatman's professional path.

The details surrounding Chatman's departure from LSU remain a subject of considerable discussion. According to reports, the university, upon learning of the alleged relationship, initiated an investigation. Chatman claimed that after LSU learned about the alleged relationship, it conducted a cursory investigation before giving her an ultimatumresign within two hours or be fired. She initially demanded to be paid the remaining $900,000 on her contract. [9] Ultimately, LSU and Chatman settled out of court for $160,000.

The fallout from the LSU scandal cast a long shadow over Chatman's career. While she continued to find opportunities in the WNBA, the circumstances of her departure from LSU remained a constant point of reference. When Pokey Chatman took over a proud WNBA franchise in 2017, she had to know the expectations to quickly return to playoff contention would loom, but Chatman couldnt have expected her. In a twist of fate, the barren roster chatman was left with when she began her tenure in 2017 came to be as a result of the retirement of the woman who fired her monday. Although Pokey Chatman's head coaching career at Louisiana State University lasted only three seasons, she hung around long enough to develop and polish two. The weight of past controversies, whether justified or not, can significantly impact an individual's ability to lead and inspire.

Despite the professional setbacks, Pokey Chatman has demonstrated resilience and a continued commitment to the sport she loves. Her current role as an assistant coach with the Seattle Storm speaks to her enduring expertise and passion for basketball. Seattle Storms associate mentor, Pokey Chatman, is unmarried. Furthermore, chatman has not hitchhiked at this point, nor has she been involved with anyone during her dynamic calling. Similarly, she is a professionally oriented person who takes an interest in basketball from a very early age.

The question of Chatman's personal life, particularly her relationship status, has been a source of public curiosity. Is Pokey Chatman single or in a relationship? According to our records, Pokey Chatman is possibly single. We have no records of past relationships for Pokey Chatman. As of now, there is no confirmed information regarding whether Pokey Chatman is single or in a relationship. Many fans speculate about her dating life, but without concrete evidence or statements from Chatman herself, it remains an open question. Who is she dating right now? These questions often surface in online forums and social media discussions. Some sources indicate she is unmarried, while others simply state that her current relationship status is unknown. Given the lack of concrete information, it's reasonable to conclude that Chatman's personal life remains private.

In contrast to the ambiguity surrounding her romantic relationships, Chatman's affection for her mother is well-documented. And, she is very affectionate of her mother. In fact, she even planned a birthday party for her mother on her 65th birthday. Pokey Chatman tweets about planning a birthday party for her mother on 15 September 2009 (photo:. This personal touch humanizes Chatman, revealing a side of her that extends beyond the basketball court and the controversies that have punctuated her career.

The WNBA is no stranger to stories of players and coaches navigating personal relationships alongside their professional lives. Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley are WNBA players and partners who met in Europe and tied the knot in 2018. They share their unique relationship, challenges and successes as teammates and spouses. After keeping their relationship out of the spotlight for more than five years, vandersloot posted a photo on instagram of herself and her wife in their sleeveless lace gowns, holding hands in. These stories, while celebrated for their inclusivity, highlight the complexities of maintaining personal boundaries within the intensely public world of professional sports.

The allegations surrounding Pokey Chatman's departure from LSU serve as a cautionary tale about the intersection of power, relationships, and ethics in sports. While the specific details of the alleged relationship remain contested, the incident underscores the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and adhering to ethical guidelines, particularly for those in positions of authority. The incident also highlights the potential consequences of failing to do so, both for the individuals involved and for the institutions they represent.

Sides was an assistant coach for the fever during the 2017 and 2018 seasons under pokey chatman. She has also served as an assistant for the atlanta dream and chicago sky. Chatman's career, marked by both significant achievements and profound controversies, serves as a complex case study in the dynamics of power, ethics, and personal relationships in the high-stakes world of professional sports. Her story prompts reflection on the responsibilities of leaders, the consequences of ethical lapses, and the enduring impact of personal choices on professional trajectories.

Whether as a player, assistant coach, or head coach, Dana "Pokey" Chatman has dedicated her life to basketball. Her journey, though marked by both triumph and tribulation, reflects a deep-seated passion for the sport and a commitment to excellence. As she continues her career as an assistant coach with the Seattle Storm, Chatman's legacy will undoubtedly be a topic of continued discussion and debate within the basketball community.

The impact of past controversies, whether justified or not, can significantly impact an individual's ability to lead and inspire. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Dana Pokey Chatman, but one thing is certain: her name will forever be etched in the annals of women's basketball history, a reminder of both the heights that can be achieved and the depths that can be plumbed in the relentless pursuit of success.