Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Countdown to Craziness on October 3, 2025 at 7 p.m.
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7 p.m.
Women's Basketball
vs Countdown to Craziness
Women's Basketball
Lawson, Kara
Kara Lawson
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- ali.hoesly@duke.edu
- Phone:
- (984) 317-2454
Former WNBA and three-time Olympic champion Kara Lawson was named Duke University’s sixth women’s basketball head coach July 11, 2020. Lawson enters her sixth season at the helm in 2025-26.
An icon in women’s college basketball, Lawson’s impact on the women’s hoops community is evident. Lawson brought her decorated basketball career, both on and off the court, to the Blue Devils after spending the 2020 season as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics. She was the franchise’s first female coach in its 73-year history.
Additionally, Lawson's playing career has her in a league of her own as she is currently the only active NCAA Division I women’s basketball coach to play in a NCAA Final Four, win a WNBA Championship and win an Olympic Gold Medal.
THE KARA ERA
Through five seasons at Duke, Lawson has led the resurgence of Duke women’s basketball, elevating the Blue Devils into one of the nation's most elite teams. She has compiled a 97-41 (.703) overall record and is just three wins away from reaching 100 career victories. In those five seasons, Lawson has guided the Blue Devils to three consecutive 20-win seasons and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
The 2024-25 season saw Lawson lead the Blue Devils to an incredibly successful season as Duke compiled a 29-8 overall record, including a 14-4 mark in ACC play, captured the program's ninth ACC Tournament title and advanced to its 12th Elite Eight – all three marking program bests dating back to the 2012-13 campaign. Additionally, the Blue Devils posted nine wins over ranked opponents while earning the distinction of being the only ACC team in 2024-25 to beat all other 17 conference opponents.
Duke was ranked inside the top 25 throughout the season, concluding at No. 7 in the final Associated Press poll - the 19th time Duke has finished in the top 10. The Blue Devils set the Duke single-game assist record (38) against No. 8 Oklahoma and program single-season records in three point field goals (225) and attempts (665) while tying for first in total minutes (7450) and games played (37).
Duke concluded the 2023-24 campaign with a 22-12 overall record and posted NCAA Tournament victories over Richmond and Ohio State to advance to the program’s 18th Regional Semifinal. In 2022-23, Lawson guided Duke back into the national spotlight. The Blue Devils posted a 26-7 overall record with a 14-4 mark in ACC play, earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the second round.
Under Lawson’s direction, Duke has also boasted one of the nation’s best defenses the past three seasons. The Blue Devils featured the nation’s No. 4 defensive rating (72.7) and ranked 10th in opponent points per possession (0.69) in 2024-25, per HerHoopStats. Duke held 32 opponents below their respective season scoring averages and limited 15 teams to 50 points or less, including five foes to fewer than 40. Duke also held its opponents to single digits in 35 quarters and forced 44 shot clock violations during the year.
The 2023-24 campaign saw the Blue Devils hold 33 of 34 opponents below their respective season scoring averages and lead the ACC in two categories - scoring defense and blocks. Duke also checked in at No. 2 in field goal percentage defense, rebounding defense and rebounding margin. Nationally, the Blue Devils’ defense checked in at No. 4 nationally per HerHoopStats, while ranking sixth in the NCAA in rejections and in the top 30 in both field goal percentage defense and rebounding margin. In 2022-23, Duke ranked third in the NCAA in scoring defense (51.0) and 10th in field goal percentage defense (35.2). The team held each of its opponents below their season scoring average, including 17 to 50 points or less.
Seven players have earned major honors under Lawson’s tutelage, including four taking home conference Player of the Year honors. Most recently, six-time ACC Rookie of the Week and three-time USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week Toby Fournier garnered 2025 ACC Rookie of the Year honors along with a spot on the All-ACC First Team and All-Freshman Team, while Ashlon Jackson earned a nod to the All-ACC Second Team and Jadyn Donovan received All-Defensive Team recognition.
In 2023-24, Oluchi Okananwa was tapped the ACC Sixth Player of the Year and to the ACC-All Freshman Team, while Reigan Richardson earned a spot on the All-ACC Second Team. The 2022-23 season saw Celeste Taylor garner AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition, take home ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors and earn nods to the All-ACC First Team and All-Defensive Team, while also being named a finalist for the 2023 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year. In 2021-22, Shayeann Day-Wilson turned in one of the best rookie seasons in Blue Devil history en route to earning ACC Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team.
Additionally, the Blue Devils have made serious waves on the recruiting trail since Lawson has taken the reigns. The early signing period saw Duke sign the nation’s No. 4 recruit in Emilee Skinner – the Blue Devils’ sixth top-five signee (per espnW rankings) since 2010 and the second under Lawson. Duke brought in its second consecutive top-10 class and third straight in the top 15, with the 2024 Freshman Class checking in at No. 7 in the nation. The 2023 recruiting haul, ranked sixth nationally, marked Duke’s first since 2015 with a player ranked in the top-five nationally by ESPN, and was the first group since the 2014 class with at least three prospects ranked in the ESPN top 30.
USA BASKETBALL
Lawson has extensive experience with USA Basketball, racking up 13 career gold medals across her playing and coaching career with the organization. During the summer of 2025, Lawson served as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Santiago, Chile where she led Team USA to an unblemished 7-0 record and the gold medal. Prior to that, she was an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics and 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup (Sydney, Australia), aiding the United States to gold medals at both events.
In the summer of 2021, Lawson helped Team USA make history as she guided the United States 3x3 Women’s National Team to a gold medal in its Olympic debut in Tokyo. It marked Lawson’s 10th overall gold medal in USA Basketball competition and seventh as a coach, making her just one of three women in Olympic history to win gold as both a player and head coach in basketball (Anne Donovan and Dawn Staley).
Since 2017, Lawson has had several head coaching roles with USA Basketball while leading USA women’s teams to seven total 3x3 gold medals. With Lawson on the sideline, the USA U18 women won four straight titles (2021 Olympics, 2017 & 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cups and 2018 Youth Olympic Games), while the U18 men won gold at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup. Additionally, Lawson helped guide both the USA 3x3 men’s and women’s teams to first-place finishes at the 2019 Pan American Games.
Lawson began her USA Basketball career as an athlete in 1998, winning the bronze medal at the World Youth Games. During her decade-long tenure as a player, she captured gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and the 2001 World University Games.
Additionally, Lawson was invited to play with the 2006 USA Basketball Women’s National Team during their spring training and played five games with the 2003 WNBA Select Team that participated in the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
PRIOR TO DUKE
In her lone season with the Celtics, Lawson helped Boston to a 43-21 overall record and a third-place standing in the Eastern Conference prior to the stoppage of the 2019-20 NBA season due to COVID-19.
Following an exceptional playing career, Lawson spent two years as the primary television analyst for the Washington Wizards and broadcasted games for ESPN Radio. In addition to her role covering the Wizards for NBC Sports Washington, Lawson served as a game and studio analyst for men’s and women’s college basketball and the NBA on ESPN. On January 12, 2007, she became the first female analyst for a nationally-televised NBA game. Lawson also served as a color commentator during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo with NBC.
In 13 WNBA seasons, Lawson averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 377 career games with the Sacramento Monarchs, Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics from 2003 to 2015. Drafted No. 5 overall by the Detroit Shock in the 2003 WNBA Draft, Lawson surpassed 3,000 points, 800 rebounds and 700 assists during her WNBA career. She won a WNBA championship with the Monarchs in 2005 and was tapped a WNBA All-Star in 2007.
A four-time All-SEC selection and two-time All-America choice at Tennessee, Lawson played for the late Pat Summitt and led the Lady Vols to three NCAA Final Four appearances during her collegiate career. Lawson appeared in 143 games, making 137 starts, and helped Tennessee to a 126-17 overall and 54-2 mark in the SEC over her four seasons. Lawson guided the Lady Vols to four straight SEC regular season and tournament crowns, as well as 2000, 2002 and 2003 NCAA Final Four appearances.
Lawson currently ranks third all-time at Tennessee in three-point field goals made (256), second in three-point field goal percentage (.415) and also ranks third in career free throw percentage (.847). Lawson averaged 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while closing her career ranking sixth in career points with 1,950. Lawson also was stellar in the classroom and was a 2003 CoSIDA/Verizon First Team Academic All-America selection.
As a senior at West Springfield High School, Lawson was selected the 1999 Naismith High School Player of the Year while earning All-America accolades from USA Today, Parade and the WBCA. Additionally, she was the 1998 and 1999 Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia and led her squad to two state championships.
Lawson graduated from Tennessee in 2003 with a degree in finance, while being one of seven recipients of the prestigious Torchbearer Award given by the university. Lawson is also a founding board member for the Boston Celtics United for Social Justice group.
An icon in women’s college basketball, Lawson’s impact on the women’s hoops community is evident. Lawson brought her decorated basketball career, both on and off the court, to the Blue Devils after spending the 2020 season as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics. She was the franchise’s first female coach in its 73-year history.
Additionally, Lawson's playing career has her in a league of her own as she is currently the only active NCAA Division I women’s basketball coach to play in a NCAA Final Four, win a WNBA Championship and win an Olympic Gold Medal.
THE KARA ERA
Through five seasons at Duke, Lawson has led the resurgence of Duke women’s basketball, elevating the Blue Devils into one of the nation's most elite teams. She has compiled a 97-41 (.703) overall record and is just three wins away from reaching 100 career victories. In those five seasons, Lawson has guided the Blue Devils to three consecutive 20-win seasons and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
The 2024-25 season saw Lawson lead the Blue Devils to an incredibly successful season as Duke compiled a 29-8 overall record, including a 14-4 mark in ACC play, captured the program's ninth ACC Tournament title and advanced to its 12th Elite Eight – all three marking program bests dating back to the 2012-13 campaign. Additionally, the Blue Devils posted nine wins over ranked opponents while earning the distinction of being the only ACC team in 2024-25 to beat all other 17 conference opponents.
Duke was ranked inside the top 25 throughout the season, concluding at No. 7 in the final Associated Press poll - the 19th time Duke has finished in the top 10. The Blue Devils set the Duke single-game assist record (38) against No. 8 Oklahoma and program single-season records in three point field goals (225) and attempts (665) while tying for first in total minutes (7450) and games played (37).
Duke concluded the 2023-24 campaign with a 22-12 overall record and posted NCAA Tournament victories over Richmond and Ohio State to advance to the program’s 18th Regional Semifinal. In 2022-23, Lawson guided Duke back into the national spotlight. The Blue Devils posted a 26-7 overall record with a 14-4 mark in ACC play, earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the second round.
Under Lawson’s direction, Duke has also boasted one of the nation’s best defenses the past three seasons. The Blue Devils featured the nation’s No. 4 defensive rating (72.7) and ranked 10th in opponent points per possession (0.69) in 2024-25, per HerHoopStats. Duke held 32 opponents below their respective season scoring averages and limited 15 teams to 50 points or less, including five foes to fewer than 40. Duke also held its opponents to single digits in 35 quarters and forced 44 shot clock violations during the year.
The 2023-24 campaign saw the Blue Devils hold 33 of 34 opponents below their respective season scoring averages and lead the ACC in two categories - scoring defense and blocks. Duke also checked in at No. 2 in field goal percentage defense, rebounding defense and rebounding margin. Nationally, the Blue Devils’ defense checked in at No. 4 nationally per HerHoopStats, while ranking sixth in the NCAA in rejections and in the top 30 in both field goal percentage defense and rebounding margin. In 2022-23, Duke ranked third in the NCAA in scoring defense (51.0) and 10th in field goal percentage defense (35.2). The team held each of its opponents below their season scoring average, including 17 to 50 points or less.
Seven players have earned major honors under Lawson’s tutelage, including four taking home conference Player of the Year honors. Most recently, six-time ACC Rookie of the Week and three-time USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week Toby Fournier garnered 2025 ACC Rookie of the Year honors along with a spot on the All-ACC First Team and All-Freshman Team, while Ashlon Jackson earned a nod to the All-ACC Second Team and Jadyn Donovan received All-Defensive Team recognition.
In 2023-24, Oluchi Okananwa was tapped the ACC Sixth Player of the Year and to the ACC-All Freshman Team, while Reigan Richardson earned a spot on the All-ACC Second Team. The 2022-23 season saw Celeste Taylor garner AP All-America Honorable Mention recognition, take home ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors and earn nods to the All-ACC First Team and All-Defensive Team, while also being named a finalist for the 2023 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year. In 2021-22, Shayeann Day-Wilson turned in one of the best rookie seasons in Blue Devil history en route to earning ACC Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the ACC All-Freshman Team.
Additionally, the Blue Devils have made serious waves on the recruiting trail since Lawson has taken the reigns. The early signing period saw Duke sign the nation’s No. 4 recruit in Emilee Skinner – the Blue Devils’ sixth top-five signee (per espnW rankings) since 2010 and the second under Lawson. Duke brought in its second consecutive top-10 class and third straight in the top 15, with the 2024 Freshman Class checking in at No. 7 in the nation. The 2023 recruiting haul, ranked sixth nationally, marked Duke’s first since 2015 with a player ranked in the top-five nationally by ESPN, and was the first group since the 2014 class with at least three prospects ranked in the ESPN top 30.
USA BASKETBALL
Lawson has extensive experience with USA Basketball, racking up 13 career gold medals across her playing and coaching career with the organization. During the summer of 2025, Lawson served as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Santiago, Chile where she led Team USA to an unblemished 7-0 record and the gold medal. Prior to that, she was an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics and 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup (Sydney, Australia), aiding the United States to gold medals at both events.
In the summer of 2021, Lawson helped Team USA make history as she guided the United States 3x3 Women’s National Team to a gold medal in its Olympic debut in Tokyo. It marked Lawson’s 10th overall gold medal in USA Basketball competition and seventh as a coach, making her just one of three women in Olympic history to win gold as both a player and head coach in basketball (Anne Donovan and Dawn Staley).
Since 2017, Lawson has had several head coaching roles with USA Basketball while leading USA women’s teams to seven total 3x3 gold medals. With Lawson on the sideline, the USA U18 women won four straight titles (2021 Olympics, 2017 & 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cups and 2018 Youth Olympic Games), while the U18 men won gold at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup. Additionally, Lawson helped guide both the USA 3x3 men’s and women’s teams to first-place finishes at the 2019 Pan American Games.
Lawson began her USA Basketball career as an athlete in 1998, winning the bronze medal at the World Youth Games. During her decade-long tenure as a player, she captured gold medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and the 2001 World University Games.
Additionally, Lawson was invited to play with the 2006 USA Basketball Women’s National Team during their spring training and played five games with the 2003 WNBA Select Team that participated in the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
PRIOR TO DUKE
In her lone season with the Celtics, Lawson helped Boston to a 43-21 overall record and a third-place standing in the Eastern Conference prior to the stoppage of the 2019-20 NBA season due to COVID-19.
Following an exceptional playing career, Lawson spent two years as the primary television analyst for the Washington Wizards and broadcasted games for ESPN Radio. In addition to her role covering the Wizards for NBC Sports Washington, Lawson served as a game and studio analyst for men’s and women’s college basketball and the NBA on ESPN. On January 12, 2007, she became the first female analyst for a nationally-televised NBA game. Lawson also served as a color commentator during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo with NBC.
In 13 WNBA seasons, Lawson averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 377 career games with the Sacramento Monarchs, Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics from 2003 to 2015. Drafted No. 5 overall by the Detroit Shock in the 2003 WNBA Draft, Lawson surpassed 3,000 points, 800 rebounds and 700 assists during her WNBA career. She won a WNBA championship with the Monarchs in 2005 and was tapped a WNBA All-Star in 2007.
A four-time All-SEC selection and two-time All-America choice at Tennessee, Lawson played for the late Pat Summitt and led the Lady Vols to three NCAA Final Four appearances during her collegiate career. Lawson appeared in 143 games, making 137 starts, and helped Tennessee to a 126-17 overall and 54-2 mark in the SEC over her four seasons. Lawson guided the Lady Vols to four straight SEC regular season and tournament crowns, as well as 2000, 2002 and 2003 NCAA Final Four appearances.
Lawson currently ranks third all-time at Tennessee in three-point field goals made (256), second in three-point field goal percentage (.415) and also ranks third in career free throw percentage (.847). Lawson averaged 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while closing her career ranking sixth in career points with 1,950. Lawson also was stellar in the classroom and was a 2003 CoSIDA/Verizon First Team Academic All-America selection.
As a senior at West Springfield High School, Lawson was selected the 1999 Naismith High School Player of the Year while earning All-America accolades from USA Today, Parade and the WBCA. Additionally, she was the 1998 and 1999 Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia and led her squad to two state championships.
Lawson graduated from Tennessee in 2003 with a degree in finance, while being one of seven recipients of the prestigious Torchbearer Award given by the university. Lawson is also a founding board member for the Boston Celtics United for Social Justice group.
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