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Kara Lawson Named 2025-28 USA Basketball Women’s National Team Head Coach
9/22/2025 12:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Sept. 22, 2025) -- Olympic gold medalist Kara Lawson has been named head coach of the USA Basketball Women's National Team through 2028. Lawson, the head coach of the Duke University women's basketball team, was selected by USA Basketball's Women's National Team managing director Sue Bird and was approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.
In addition to an Olympic gold medal as a player at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Lawson helped the USA claim gold medals as an assistant coach at the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup, Olympic Games Paris 2024 and, most recently, as head coach at the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup. Lawson also coached the USA Basketball 3x3 Women's National Team to gold at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the first time 3x3 was contested at a Games.
"I am honored to be selected as the head coach of the Women's National Team for this cycle," Lawson said. "I want to thank Sue Bird, General Dempsey and the USA Basketball Board of Directors, Jim Tooley and Briana Gould for this tremendous opportunity.
"I will work tirelessly to uphold the standards of this storied program. There is no greater honor in our sport than to be chosen to lead the U.S. women in world competition. I understand the responsibility and the challenges that lie ahead. I look forward to meeting them head on.
"This has been something I've worked towards for a long time. I'm thankful to all of the players that I've had the opportunity to coach and all of the coaches I've learned from. There is nothing more important than pushing this group to reach its potential. I can't wait to get started!"
Lawson will lead the USA women at the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin next fall and at the Olympics Games Los Angeles 2028. Additionally, Lawson will coach at qualifying tournaments, training camps and exhibitions throughout the Olympic cycle.
"I am so excited to welcome Kara Lawson as the next head coach of the USA Basketball Women's National Team," USA Basketball Women's National Team managing director Sue Bird said. "Having shared the court with her, I know firsthand the leadership, competitive spirit and basketball IQ that she brings. Kara has always had the respect of her teammates and her players, something she has earned and demonstrated over decades with USA Basketball as a player, 3x3 coach and assistant coach. I can't wait to work with her and continue to build on the tradition of excellence that USA Basketball stands for."
"Kara has been involved with USA Basketball dating back to 1998 as a high school player in the World Youth Games," USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said. "Her international basketball experience is extensive, including 13 gold medals. To say her journey with us has been impressive is an understatement. I'm excited to watch Kara and Sue work together to deliver success at the World Cup in Berlin next fall and at the Olympic Games in L.A. in 2028."
On top of Lawson's Olympic and World Cup coaching success, she has been at the helm for gold medals at multiple FIBA 3x3 World Cups, the 2019 Pan American Games (3x3) and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (3x3).
"The USA Basketball Board of Directors is very happy to welcome Kara Lawson as the USA Women's National Team Coach through the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games," USA Basketball chairman General (Ret.) Martin Dempsey said. "Kara is a competition-tested veteran of international basketball, a successful coach at every level of the game and a respected leader. She will be a superb representative of our country on and off the court."
Through five seasons at Duke, Lawson has compiled a 97-41 (.703) overall record and has guided the Blue Devils to three consecutive 20-win seasons, including winning the 2025 ACC tournament. Duke has gone to three straight NCAA Tournaments, including an NCAA Elite Eight run in 2025. Lawson served on the coaching staff of the Boston Celtics for the 2019-20 season prior to the COVID-19 stoppage.
"This recognition is a tremendous and fitting achievement for Kara, our university and the game of basketball," said Duke Vice President, King-Compton Families Director of Athletics Nina King. "Her vision, drive and ability to uplift those around her have left an indelible mark on our student-athletes and the broader Duke community. Kara exemplifies the highest standards of leadership, character and competitive excellence. We are extraordinarily proud of the impact she continues to make both on and off the court, and we look forward to seeing her leadership resonate on the global stage with USA Basketball."
"On behalf of the ACC, I want to congratulate Kara Lawson on her historic appointment as head coach of the USA Basketball Women's National Team," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "Kara's leadership, vision and competitive spirit have long set her apart as both a player and coach. This is a tremendous personal achievement and a proud moment for Duke University and the entire ACC. Kara will represent USA Basketball with excellence and integrity, and we look forward to supporting her and the entire team ."
After being drafted No. 5 overall by the Detroit Shock in the 2003 WNBA Draft, Lawson spent 13 seasons with the Shock, Sacramento Monarchs, Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics before retiring in 2015. Lawson surpassed 3,000 points, 800 rebounds and 700 assists during her WNBA career, winning a WNBA championship with the Monarchs in 2005.
A four-time All-SEC selection and two-time All-American at the University of Tennessee, Lawson played for the late Pat Summitt and led the Lady Vols to three NCAA Final Four appearances (2000, 2002, 2003). While at Tennessee, Lawson won four straight SEC regular season and tournament crowns.
Lawson's selection is subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Additional staff announcements and information about future USA Basketball Women's National Team activity will be announced at a later date.
In addition to an Olympic gold medal as a player at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Lawson helped the USA claim gold medals as an assistant coach at the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup, Olympic Games Paris 2024 and, most recently, as head coach at the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup. Lawson also coached the USA Basketball 3x3 Women's National Team to gold at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the first time 3x3 was contested at a Games.
"I am honored to be selected as the head coach of the Women's National Team for this cycle," Lawson said. "I want to thank Sue Bird, General Dempsey and the USA Basketball Board of Directors, Jim Tooley and Briana Gould for this tremendous opportunity.
"I will work tirelessly to uphold the standards of this storied program. There is no greater honor in our sport than to be chosen to lead the U.S. women in world competition. I understand the responsibility and the challenges that lie ahead. I look forward to meeting them head on.
"This has been something I've worked towards for a long time. I'm thankful to all of the players that I've had the opportunity to coach and all of the coaches I've learned from. There is nothing more important than pushing this group to reach its potential. I can't wait to get started!"
Lawson will lead the USA women at the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin next fall and at the Olympics Games Los Angeles 2028. Additionally, Lawson will coach at qualifying tournaments, training camps and exhibitions throughout the Olympic cycle.
"I am so excited to welcome Kara Lawson as the next head coach of the USA Basketball Women's National Team," USA Basketball Women's National Team managing director Sue Bird said. "Having shared the court with her, I know firsthand the leadership, competitive spirit and basketball IQ that she brings. Kara has always had the respect of her teammates and her players, something she has earned and demonstrated over decades with USA Basketball as a player, 3x3 coach and assistant coach. I can't wait to work with her and continue to build on the tradition of excellence that USA Basketball stands for."
"Kara has been involved with USA Basketball dating back to 1998 as a high school player in the World Youth Games," USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said. "Her international basketball experience is extensive, including 13 gold medals. To say her journey with us has been impressive is an understatement. I'm excited to watch Kara and Sue work together to deliver success at the World Cup in Berlin next fall and at the Olympic Games in L.A. in 2028."
On top of Lawson's Olympic and World Cup coaching success, she has been at the helm for gold medals at multiple FIBA 3x3 World Cups, the 2019 Pan American Games (3x3) and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (3x3).
"The USA Basketball Board of Directors is very happy to welcome Kara Lawson as the USA Women's National Team Coach through the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games," USA Basketball chairman General (Ret.) Martin Dempsey said. "Kara is a competition-tested veteran of international basketball, a successful coach at every level of the game and a respected leader. She will be a superb representative of our country on and off the court."
Through five seasons at Duke, Lawson has compiled a 97-41 (.703) overall record and has guided the Blue Devils to three consecutive 20-win seasons, including winning the 2025 ACC tournament. Duke has gone to three straight NCAA Tournaments, including an NCAA Elite Eight run in 2025. Lawson served on the coaching staff of the Boston Celtics for the 2019-20 season prior to the COVID-19 stoppage.
"This recognition is a tremendous and fitting achievement for Kara, our university and the game of basketball," said Duke Vice President, King-Compton Families Director of Athletics Nina King. "Her vision, drive and ability to uplift those around her have left an indelible mark on our student-athletes and the broader Duke community. Kara exemplifies the highest standards of leadership, character and competitive excellence. We are extraordinarily proud of the impact she continues to make both on and off the court, and we look forward to seeing her leadership resonate on the global stage with USA Basketball."
"On behalf of the ACC, I want to congratulate Kara Lawson on her historic appointment as head coach of the USA Basketball Women's National Team," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "Kara's leadership, vision and competitive spirit have long set her apart as both a player and coach. This is a tremendous personal achievement and a proud moment for Duke University and the entire ACC. Kara will represent USA Basketball with excellence and integrity, and we look forward to supporting her and the entire team ."
After being drafted No. 5 overall by the Detroit Shock in the 2003 WNBA Draft, Lawson spent 13 seasons with the Shock, Sacramento Monarchs, Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics before retiring in 2015. Lawson surpassed 3,000 points, 800 rebounds and 700 assists during her WNBA career, winning a WNBA championship with the Monarchs in 2005.
A four-time All-SEC selection and two-time All-American at the University of Tennessee, Lawson played for the late Pat Summitt and led the Lady Vols to three NCAA Final Four appearances (2000, 2002, 2003). While at Tennessee, Lawson won four straight SEC regular season and tournament crowns.
Lawson's selection is subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Additional staff announcements and information about future USA Basketball Women's National Team activity will be announced at a later date.
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