Who is Kara Lawson? Duke coach named as USA basketball women’s national team head for 2026 World Cup, 2028 Olympics

USA Basketball has selected Kara Lawson, the head coach of Duke’s women’s basketball program, to lead the US Women’s National Team through the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This appointment marks a significant milestone in Lawson’s rapidly ascending coaching career by becoming the 13th head coach of the Women's National Team.

Who is Kara Lawson?

Kara Lawson is a former Olympic gold medallist and a rising star in coaching. A standout player at Tennessee under legendary coach Pat Summitt, Lawson earned two-time All-American honours and was selected as a first-round pick in the 2003 WNBA Draft.

She won a WNBA championship with the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005 and claimed Olympic gold as a player at the 2008 Beijing Games. Transitioning to coaching, Lawson broke barriers as an assistant with the Boston Celtics in 2019 before taking over as Duke’s head coach in 2020. Her Olympic coaching experience includes guiding the U.S. 3x3 team to gold in Tokyo 2020 and serving as an assistant for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Games.

Kara Lawson on her appointment

“I am honoured 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.”

Rebuilding Duke’s legacy

Kara Lawson inherited a Duke program in 2020 that had missed the NCAA Tournament in consecutive years, a rare low point for the Blue Devils. Despite a challenging start, with only four games played in the pandemic-shortened 2021-22 season, Lawson quickly turned things around. By her third season, Duke posted a 26-win campaign and returned to the NCAA Tournament, reaching the second round. The program continued its upward trajectory, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2024 and the Elite Eight in 2025, reestablishing Duke as a powerhouse in women’s college basketball.

Olympic and international goals

Kara Lawson’s appointment signals USA Basketball’s confidence in her ability to maintain the program’s gold-standard legacy. With a proven track record as both a player and coach on the Olympic stage, she is well-equipped to lead Team USA through the 2026 World Cup in Germany and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“I will work tirelessly to uphold the standards of this storied program,” Lawson said.

“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.”