What new head coach Kara Lawson brings to the U.S. national team

Her tenure from 2025 to 2028 will include both the FIBA World Cup in Berlin next year and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

In addition to a highly successful role as a player and coach to several different teams, Lawson was an assistant under Cheryl Reeve at the 2022 World Cup in Sydney and 2024 Olympics in Paris. Lawson also coached the inaugural 3×3 Olympic team to a gold medal in Tokyo four years ago. In July, she won the FIBA AmeriCup in Santiago, Chile, with a group of collegiate players facing more-experienced ones. The 44-year-old is entering her sixth season as head coach at Duke University.

“USA Basketball gave me my first coaching job,” Lawson said at her introductory press conference on Tuesday. “I had a lot of experience playing; I had no experience coaching. They believed in me first. That’s why it’s so emotional for me.”

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A history of excellence

As women’s national team director Briana Gould pointed out during the conference, the program is seeking its fifth-consecutive World Cup win and ninth-straight Olympic gold.

“The talent level speaks for itself,” Lawson added. “It’s some of the top players in the world, and they have a great understanding of what it takes. Everybody knows the time you have together is shorter. So that’s the biggest difference between USA Basketball and a traditional team. In college, you have a lot of practices together in order to gel. In the WNBA, you have a season in order to grow.”

The last time Los Angeles hosted the Olympics was 1984. Pat Summitt coached the U.S. to a gold medal there, and this will be the first time that one of her former Tennessee players will coach the national team. Anne Donovan was the center on the 1984 team and would coach Lawson at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. During her introduction, Lawson acknowledged not only Summitt and Donovan, but also each of the previous national team coaches.

“It’s an amazing group,” Lawson said. “(They) pushed the envelope to where women’s basketball is today and help create the standards and expectations that everyone talks about when they talk about USA Basketball. It’s a special place, feeling and opportunity.”

Lawson is well aware that she will be coaching in the same Olympic city as Summitt. She also noted that Summitt would tell her to enjoy the opportunity, but to make sure to play tough defensively. That remark drew a laugh from the crowd.

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Lawson and Bird together again

At the Beijing Olympics, Lawson served as the backup point guard to Sue Bird. In her new role as national team managing director, Bird is the person who appointed Lawson to the position.

“I looked for someone who had the experience of having USA on their chest,” Bird said. “In Kara’s case, it came in the form of a jersey, as well as a polo. I think with 13 gold medals — she has won as both a coach and a player — her international experience is unmatched. Her ability is proof she has the capability to win on these big stages.”

Bird mentioned playing against Lawson in her AAU days and reading about her in Sports Illustrated for Kids back in the 1990s. Through all of the years, she said she knew Lawson would always be prepared and “go for the jugular.” She touched on the fact that it was Lawson who stepped up in the 2008 gold medal game. Playing with many future Hall of Famers, Lawson’s team-high 15 points powered the U.S. over Australia.

Praise from the CEO

USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley applauded Lawson in the conference, as well. Tooley remembered Lawson playing at the 2001 World University Games, also in Beijing. When he spoke to the players, most were excited to return to their college programs after the event. Lawson told him that she was totally committed to the current team and would refrain from focusing on Tennessee until after the gold medal game. He also noted a non-basketball story about hiking in Colorado. Lawson gave inspirational advice to a stranger struggling to make it up the mountain.

Lawson’s extensive resume of achievements also includes winning the 2005 WNBA title with the Sacramento Monarchs 20 years ago. She was the 1999 Naismith High School Player of the Year and was the starting point guard on three Tennessee Final Four teams.

Team USA has already punched its ticket for the World Cup, but it will still compete in the qualifying tournament this spring. Several training camps are also in Lawson’s future agenda, while juggling time with the Blue Devils.

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