DWB Notebook: July 27

DURHAM, N.C. - Keep up to date with the latest news from current and former Blue Devils with this week's notebook.

Coach Kara Lawson Announces Coaching Staff

Coach Kara announces her staff! ??

Welcome to Duke, Beth Cunningham and Winston Gandy, and welcome back, Tia Jackson!

?? https://t.co/ESYZEDLXtC #KaraEra pic.twitter.com/zFuaQ4ecXd
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) July 24, 2020

Welcome home, Tia Jackson! Can't wait to have you back in Cameron ??

"I am excited about being back with the Duke family." @tjackcoach #KaraEra pic.twitter.com/Bn4rnkN8sU
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) July 24, 2020

A perfect fit.
A welcome challenge.

Beth Cunningham is excited to join Kara Lawson at Duke. #KaraEra pic.twitter.com/bqKu9I3Akt
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) July 24, 2020

Inside Duke Women's Basketball…

Latest podcast just dropped! Coach Kara talks all things Duke on the latest Inside Duke Women's Basketball ????

?? Listen: https://t.co/ZY0Lp7Mw2R pic.twitter.com/MlgYr1v6b4
— Duke Women's Basketball (@DukeWBB) July 22, 2020

The Recap…

Kara Lawson Named 100 Influential People in Women's Basketball

Duke's new head coach Kara Lawson was part of Silver Media's 100 Influential People in Women's Basketball list. Lawson was a WNBA champion, as well as an Olympic gold-medalist, before she went on to a career in broadcasting, and then coaching.

Kara Lawson in The Undefeated

Why the hiring of former WNBA star and Celtics assistant Kara Lawson is significant.https://t.co/c17v0iOEY7
— The Undefeated (@TheUndefeated) July 23, 2020

Alumni Update…

Six Blue Devils Opened WNBA Season

On Saturday the WNBA season opened in Bradenton, Fla., in the "Wubble." Six Duke alumni earned roster spots for the 24th WNBA season. Veterans in the league include Lexie Brown (Minnesota Lynx), Karima Christmas-Kelly (Minnesota Lynx), Chelsea Gray (L.A. Sparks), Jasmine Thomas (Connecticut Sun) and Elizabeth Williams (Atlanta Dream). And rookie Leaonna Odom (New York Liberty) made her debut in the league.

Rookie Neah Odom enters the books with an easy ??! pic.twitter.com/X9zgOCP0Wf
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) July 25, 2020

First career start coming. pic.twitter.com/urVxQGFuNk
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) July 26, 2020

Will never get tired of seeing Chelsea Gray dimes. @cgray209

(via @LASparks) pic.twitter.com/8gcUxP3aJg
— WSLAM (@wslam) July 25, 2020

Lexie Brown on Social Change

"I think people are finally recognizing how amazing, incredible, strong, and resilient black women are, and I think we need to keep that narrative going."@minnesotalynx and @DukeWBB's @lexiekiah_4 on the impact black women have had on the movement for social change. pic.twitter.com/3w32czzpKt
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) July 24, 2020

Karima Christmas-Kelly's Leadership

The former Duke Blue Devil was named one of three captains for the Minnesota Lynx after playing only six games in her first season with the Lynx. Christmas-Kelly had her season cut short due to a right knee injury, but that did not stop her from being one of the team's natural leaders.

Karima Christmas-Kelly has played just six games for the Lynx. Now she's a team captain. https://t.co/c15cIdpYbg via @pioneerpress
— Women's Basketball DAILY (@WBBDaily) July 19, 2020

The Legend of Alana Beard - ACCN