Duke's Kara Lawson Named USA Women's Basketball Coach Ahead of 2028 LA Olympics

USA Basketball announced Monday that Duke head coach Kara Lawson will lead the women's national team through the 2028 Summer 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.

"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 spent 13 seasons in the WNBA, winning a title with the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005 and earning an All-Star nod in 2007. She also represented the United States in the 2008 Summer Games, helping the U.S. cruise to a gold medal.

The 44-year-old started coaching in 2019-20, working as an assistant for the Boston Celtics. She didn't have to wait long for her first head coaching opportunity as Duke hired her in July 2020.

The Blue Devils are 97-41 with Lawson on the sideline. They reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in 2024 before winning the ACC tourney and advancing to the Elite Eight of the Big Dance last year.

Throw in the fact Lawson coached Team USA to gold in the women's 3x3 tournament in the 2020 Olympics, and she's a natural candidate to succeed Cheryl Reeve.

Taking charge of the senior women's team is a somewhat thankless task, given the absurdly high standard the U.S. has maintained on the court.

The 1992 Olympics are the last time the United States failed to win gold, and that's the same year Team USA suffered its last Olympic defeat. The winning streak sits at 61 games and counting.

Like on the men's side, the rest of the world is closing the gap on the U.S. France's Gabby Williams was inches away from sending the 2024 gold medal game into overtime.

But a first-place finish remains the expectation, and that's especially true with a Summer Games hosted by the United States.

Lawson will now have a few years to figure out her best squad and a plan of attack for a gold medal title defense.