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2w ago

Kara Lawson Named U.S. Women’s Basketball Head Coach Through 2028

Sue Bird's first major hire signals continuity for a powerhouse now facing a stronger global field.

Mar 30, 2025; Birmingham, AL, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Kara Lawson coaches her team during the second half of an Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images/File photo
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Photo by Lance King/Getty Images

Overview

  • USA Basketball appointed the Duke coach to lead the national team through the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the Board of Directors approving Bird’s selection.
  • Lawson’s USA résumé includes Olympic gold as a player in 2008, head coach of the Tokyo 3x3 gold medalists, assistant on the 2024 Paris champion, and head coach of the 2025 AmeriCup winner.
  • She succeeds Cheryl Reeve after the program’s eighth straight Olympic gold in Paris, with Team USA aiming for a record-extending ninth in 2028.
  • Lawson will continue coaching Duke, creating a potential availability conflict for a March World Cup qualifier that falls just before the NCAA Tournament.
  • Next steps include assembling a staff and preparing for the World Cup qualifier in March ahead of the 2026 tournament in Berlin.