Duke women have depth, experience and ‘sisterhood’ going into Kara Lawson’s fifth season
Duke’s Kara Lawson can say her players’ names a certain way and get her point across — sort of like a mother figure. That intimate understanding is something the Blue Devils are embracing — because Lawson believes it’s how the women’s basketball program will find long-term success.
Lawson is entering her fifth year at the helm and has reached a point where the program has players who have been at Duke most, if not all, of their careers. That has not been the case in previous years.
“We have a lot of returners. Certainly in this environment of college basketball, it’s rare,” Lawson said at ACC Tipoff on Tuesday, noting no one transferred from the program. “I think it speaks more to our players, their commitment to each other and their excitement to have an opportunity to compete again in this league and hopefully in the postseason, as well.”
Everyone talks about the importance of older players in terms of leadership and experience, but the Blue Devils emphasized the depth of their relationships.
Lawson doesn’t have to say anything for her veterans to know what she’s thinking. She can just look at them. Spending extended time at a program, which is becoming less common, deepens relationships and trust.
Guard Reigan Richardson said Lawson gives players individualized advice, provides emotional support for those dealing with mental health challenges and holds them accountable.
Guard Ashlon Jackson said she gets goosebumps competing alongside her teammates and knows nothing is off limits. They say their sisterhood goes beyond the hardwood; it’s one that will last for life.
It’s about committing to the people in the program and the team’s high standards; it’s about committing to the chance to do something special. And it’s not just basketball. It covers every phase of the program.
“I think we have succeeded in that. I walk in every day to practice so happy, so inspired to coach them,” Lawson said. “I love them. I love what they’re about, and there’s an urgency to try and help them fulfill their potential.”
“They’re everything to me,” Jackson said.
The Blue Devils hope their chemistry, accountability and vulnerability — when coupled with the high athletic standard — leads them to an even better finish this season.
Duke made the Sweet 16 and finished with a 22-12 record in Lawson’s fourth year. It pulled off a road upset over No. 2 seed Ohio State in the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Then, the defense held eventual Final Four team, UConn, under 55 points in its regional semifinal.
The locker room was happier than expected that evening in March. Oluchi Okananwa, now a sophomore, said it was because the team appreciated everything it accomplished together and immediately felt a hunger to be better this season.
“Not only do I want it again, but I want more,” Okananwa said after the loss. “We’re coming back for more.”
The program hasn’t made back-to-back Sweet 16s since its stretch from 2010-13 nor has it made the Elite Eight since 2013. Its history includes a quartet of trips to the Final Four, but the last took place in 2006.
If there’s anything that will help the team take the next step under Lawson, it’ll be the sisterhood, the culture.
“I think we talked about this last week as a group,” Lawson said. “We succeeded in building it, but you have to protect it, you have to continue to fight for it, and you have to continue to make it what you want. Just because you succeed at it is not an end point. It’s incumbent upon us to continue it because if we stop, it will go in the other direction, and that’s important.”
Richardson and Jackson took that to heart in the offseason. They’ve made concerted efforts to mature into stronger leaders. Richardson, in particular, has grown into a more vocal leader and aims to be an older sister of sorts to the newcomers. She wants to be someone they can count on.
Both look forward to stepping back on the court this winter and representing Duke. They’re excited for another chance to get better and hopefully come out with a few more victories.
“We’re not satisfied, obviously,” Jackson said. “We want to continue to build on that, continue to grow together and continue to try to get as many wins as possible in order for us to succeed.”
