Leading ACC women’s basketball coach takes on role with Team USA

Kara Lawson Takes on New Role with U.S. Women’s Basketball

Kara Lawson is set to enhance her already impressive career by taking on a new challenge with U.S. basketball.

This Tuesday, it was announced that the Duke women’s basketball head coach will lead Chile’s FIBA women’s American team USA this summer. Joining her in this endeavor will be Delicha Milton Jones from Old Dominion and Oklahoma’s Jenny Baransik, as the tournament is scheduled from June 28th to July 6th.

“I’m incredibly excited about the chance to work with some of the best players and coaches in the country,” Lawson noted in a statement. “I’ve always looked forward to contributing to American basketball in any way possible.”

Lawson has an impressive track record, having secured three Olympic gold medals with Team USA. She led the 3×3 team to victory in Tokyo in 2021 and was part of the coaching staff for the 5×5 team that triumphed in Paris last summer. She also won gold as a player in the 2008 Olympics. Throughout her various coaching roles with Team USA, Lawson boasts a remarkable record of 75 wins and 5 losses.

“This journey has given me so much over the years—both as a player and in my coaching roles,” she reflected. “Competing at the highest level is something I’ve always embraced, and that commitment remains as I gear up for this summer. My goal is to assemble a competitive team that upholds the standards we value, with excellence being our top priority. I’m eager for the challenge of striving for another gold medal for the United States.”

Lawson, a former player for the University of Tennessee under the legendary Pat Summitt, has just concluded her fifth season leading the Duke Blue Devils, achieving the program’s best results in over a decade. Duke not only captured the ACC Tournament title but also made its first Elite Eight appearance since 2013.

In 2023, the American team secured a silver medal at the FIBA AmeriCup, falling to Brazil in the final match. This squad mainly consisted of collegiate stars like Angel Reese, Ricket Jackson, and Lauren Betts. Kami Esridge from Washington State was at the helm of that team.

The U.S. has claimed four gold medals at the AmeriCup, with the latest one achieved in 2021, featuring players like Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston, and Elissa Cunane.