Kara Lawson named head coach of USA women's basketball - ESPN

Duke's Kara Lawson has been named the next head coach of the United States women's basketball team.

Lawson, who was an assistant coach on the 2024 gold-medal-winning national team and a gold medalist as a player in 2008, will lead the U.S. at all major competitions leading into the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

«To win a gold medal as a player was amazing, and one of the earliest goals that I set out when I was young,» Lawson told ESPN. «I think that is what drives you because you know how great that feels and you want the players you coach to experience that. You get to have this permanent memory in your sport and so the goal is to try to help them create that for themselves at the different world events.»

Lawson takes over the national team from Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, who guided the women to their eighth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

While the United States' dominance at the international level is unparalleled — America has won 60 consecutive Olympic games — Lawson knows firsthand how close the rest of the world is to closing the gap.

Lawson was an assistant on Reeve's staff as the U.S. defeated France by the slimmest of margins, 67-66, in the Paris gold medal game, when Gabby Williams stepped on the 3-point line as she hit what would have been a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation.

«The international game has never been more competitive on the women's side,» Lawson said. «And I think the roster for the U.S. women has always been the most competitive roster to make. I would argue in any sport, it's the hardest roster to make. But this might be the hardest of the hardest roster to make. Because there's so many good veterans that have won a lot for our country. And