Former WNBA and Olympic Champion Kara Lawson was named Duke University’s fifth head women’s basketball coach July 11, 2020. She joins us in the Huddle this week to discuss her journey. 
 
Lawson, a 2003 Tennessee graduate, brings her decorated basketball career, both on and off the court, to the Blue Devils after spending last season as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics. She had helped Boston to a 43-21 record and into third place in the Eastern Conference prior to the stoppage of the 2019-20 NBA season due to COVID-19. Lawson was the Celtics first female coach in the franchise’s 73-year history.

Her impact on the women’s basketball community is evident as she was named one of the 100 most influential people in women’s college basketball as announced by Silver Waves Media in the summer of 2020.  


 
Coaching Experience:
2020-present:  Duke University (Head Coach)
2019-20:  Boston Celtics (Assistant Coach)
2017-present:  USA Basketball 3-on-3 Team (Head Coach)
 
USA Basketball Highlights:
Preparing USA Basketball 3-on-3 Team for 2021 Tokyo Olympics
Helped lead 3x3 teams to six gold medals since 2017
Led U18 3x3 teams to three straight titles
Led 3x3 men's and women's teams to gold medal at 2019 Pan American Games
2009 National Team Training Camp
2008 National Team (Gold Medal)
2007 FIBA Americas Championship Team (Gold Medal)
2006 National Team Spring Training Team
2001 World University Games (Gold Medal)
1998 World Youth Games Team (Bronze Medal)
 
WNBA Highlights:
Surpassed 3,000 points, 800 rebounds and 700 assists over her 13-year career
Led nine of her teams to the playoffs out of 13 seasons
2012 & 2009 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award winner
2007 WNBA All-Star
Led Sacramento Monarchs to WNBA Title in 2005
Drafted in the 2003 Draft, No. 5 overall, by the Detroit Shock
2003 WNBA Select Team that played in FIBA World Cup (2nd)
 
Tennessee Highlights:
Guided Tennessee to a 126-17 overall and 54-2 SEC record
Led Lady Vols to four straight SEC Tournament and regular season titles
Made 2000, 2002 and 2003 NCAA Final Four appearances
Ranks sixth all-time in scoring (1,950)
Four-time All-SEC First Team (2000-03)
Two-time Naismith Player of the Year finalist (2002-03)
Two-time U.S. Basketball Writers of America All-America honoree (2002-03)
2003 Kodak All-America
2003 Associated Press Second Team All-America
2003 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Student-Athlete of the Year
2003 CoSIDA/Verizon First Team Academic All-America selection
2002 Associated Press Third Team All-America
2001 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America
2001 CoSIDA/Verizon Academic All-District honoree
2000 Women's Basketball Journal Freshman All-America and SEC All-Freshman Team

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