Duke’s Kara Lawson will coach US Olympic women’s basketball team in 2028 games
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- USA Basketball named Kara Lawson head coach for 2028 Olympic women’s team.
- Lawson brings decades of experience as player, assistant and 3x3 head coach.
- Currently Duke’s coach, Lawson led team to 2024 ACC title and Elite Eight trip.
Duke’s Kara Lawson will be head coach for the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics cycle, USA Basketball announced on Monday.
“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 in a statement “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.”
Hired as Duke’s head women’s basketball coach in July 2020, Lawson led the Blue Devils to the ACC championship and the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight round last season.
“I will work tirelessly to uphold the standards of this storied program,” Lawson said in a statement. “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 already has a storied history with USA Basketball, having won an Olympic gold medal in 2008 as a player at the Beijing games. As an assistant coach she helped the U.S. team win gold medals at the 2020 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympics in Paris. As a head coach, she led the U.S. team to a gold medal in 3x3 Basketball at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the 5x5 team to gold at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup this summer.
“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 in a statement. “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.”
A Boston Celtics assistant coach before being hired at Duke, Lawson’s record with the Blue Devils is 97-41. She’s led the team to three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths, including last season’s 29-8 squad that was ranked No. 7 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll.
“This recognition is a tremendous and fitting achievement for Kara, our university and the game of basketball,” said Duke athletics director Nina King said in a statement. “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.”
As a player, Lawson was a four-time, all-Southeastern Conference selection while playing for coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee. She led the Volunteers to four consecutive SEC championships and three Final Fours.
This story was originally published September 22, 2025 at 12:12 PM.