Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson has been appointed head coach for Team USA at the upcoming FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Chile this summer. Lawson aims to lead the national team to their fifth gold medal in the tournament while continuing her impressive coaching career.
“I always look forward to serving USA Basketball in any capacity that I am asked,” Lawson said. “I’ve always tried to compete and give my best in the different roles I’ve been given. That won’t change this summer.”
Olympic Gold Medalist Brings Winning Experience to National Team
Lawson brings significant international coaching experience to her new role. The three-time Olympic gold medalist has compiled an impressive 75-5 record as a Team USA coach, including gold medals with the 3×3 team at Tokyo in 2021 and the 5×5 team in Paris last summer.
Her basketball journey includes success as both player and coach. Lawson earned gold as a player on the 2008 Olympic team before transitioning to coaching. The University of Tennessee alumna describes basketball as “a gift” that has rewarded her “so much over the years as a player, as a committee member, and as a coach.”
Duke Success Powers Lawson’s Growing Coaching Resume
Lawson recently completed her fifth season with the Duke Blue Devils, achieving remarkable results. Under her leadership, Duke captured the ACC Tournament title and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in over a decade.
These accomplishments further solidify her reputation as a rising coaching star. Her success at Duke demonstrates her ability to build winning programs and develop players at the highest level, qualities that made her an ideal choice to lead Team USA this summer.
Team USA Seeks Redemption After Silver Medal Finish
Team USA enters the AmeriCup tournament looking to reclaim gold after settling for silver in 2023. Brazil defeated the American squad in their previous tournament appearance, ending their gold medal streak.
The national team has been placed in Group B alongside host nation Chile, Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. With Lawson at the helm, Team USA will be focused on returning to championship form and securing their fifth AmeriCup gold medal overall.
Elite Coaching Staff Assembled for Tournament Success
Lawson has assembled a strong coaching team to assist her in the gold medal pursuit. She will be joined by Old Dominion coach DeLisha Milton-Jones and Oklahoma’s Jennie Baranczyk on the sidelines.
Together, this experienced staff aims to uphold what Lawson calls “the number one standard — excellence.” Their collective basketball knowledge will help select and prepare a competitive roster capable of dominating the tournament, which features top teams from across the Americas.
