Duke hires Kara Lawson as women's basketball head coach

Duke University has hired former WNBA guard Kara Lawson as the head coach of its women's basketball team, the school confirmed on Saturday.

The 39-year-old Lawson will replace Joanne P. McCallie, who compiled a record of 330-107 in 13 seasons at Duke. 

Lawson, who played collegiate basketball at Tennessee under the legendary Pat Summitt, was previously an assistant with the Boston Celtics before taking on her first head coaching job.

OFFICIAL.

Welcome to Duke, Kara Lawson! pic.twitter.com/0IIV5WprPD

— Duke Women’s Basketball (@DukeWBB) July 11, 2020

"It's a dream come true for me," Lawson said in a statement. "I have wanted to be a coach since I was a kid."

"To have an opportunity to lead a group of young women at a prestigious university like Duke – I have run out of words; it is unbelievable and very exciting," she added. 

"It wasn't a decision based on emotion, but there was a lot of emotion involved in it because of how excited I am and how ready I am to get started and to work with the players."

Duke's Director of Athletics, Kevin White, said Lawson is "the ideal fit for Duke University."

"Throughout the process, it became abundantly clear that her authenticity, passion, contemporary vision and unwavering commitment to the student-athlete experience align seamlessly with the values of the institution," he added. 

"With her high degree of emotional intelligence, Kara's astute ability to connect with future, current and former student-athletes, as well as the passionate and dedicated supporters of Duke women's basketball, will have an immediate and profound impact on the entire program."

Lawson won a WNBA title with the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005, and was part of the United States team that won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in her professional career.

Lawson became a well-respected broadcaster and analyst after her basketball career, before eventually being hired as the first female coach in the history of the Boston Celtics franchise. 

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USA basketball women expand pre-Olympic training plans

WASHINGTON -- Reigning world and Olympic champion United States unveiled an expanded training program Saturday ahead of next year's Tokyo Olympics featuring eight core players from the women's basketball team's long-running dynasty squad.

Four-time Olympic champion guards Diana Taurasi, 36, and Sue Bird, 37, are among eight players who will take part in five of seven sessions from November to April with other US national team players taking part as schedules allow during the off-season for the Women's NBA.

The US women, who won their third consecutive women's world crown last year, seek a seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal and ninth in their past 10 attempts.

That would match the American men's gold run from 1936-1968 as the longest by any team in all Olympic sports.

"It's not only about trying to win another gold medal. It's about trying to win our seventh in a row," Bird said. "That's the story. But above all it gives us a chance to get together as potential Olympians and play."

Starting with a home-court title at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, the US women are 63-1 in Olympic play, losing only a 1992 semi-final to the Commonwealth of Independent States collection of former Soviet Union talent.

The Americans clinched their spot in Tokyo by taking their seventh world crown in nine attempts last year.

"I'm very excited about this program. It's the right amount of training so we can gear up and get ready for the Olympics," Bird said. "It gives us the right amount of exposure where we can really create some momentum heading into the Olympics."

"Every year it gets tougher," said Taurasi. "Every competition gets a little bit harder. So this is a great opportunity to train, play, be in competitive situations with a team that hopefully is going to Tokyo to win a gold medal.

"We know how important it is to have a good last hurrah. We brainstormed with a couple other players and put together a plan. It's just something that came together literally at dinner on a piece of paper with some crayons."

Three-time Olympic champion Sylvia Fowles, 2016 Olympic and 2018 world champion Elena Delle Donne, two-time world champion Nneka Ogwumike, 2018 world champion A'ja Wilson, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Chelsea Gray will also take part.

US coach Dawn Staley was glad to see extra resources for her team in the wake of a second consecutive title by the US Women's World Cup football side and the 2018 US Women's Olympic ice hockey team.

"I'm happy about it because it gives us more opportunity to prep," Staley said. "This program gives us an opportunity to keep a core group of players together and to build chemistry and cohesion while some of our other players are overseas playing."

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Easy win brings tough question for Team USA

RIO DE JANEIRO - The U.S. women's basketball team faced their sternest test of the Rio Games and tougher questions after beating Serbia 110-84 on Wednesday to remain on course for a sixth successive gold.

After winning their opening two games by an average of 52 points, the Americans had to settle for a more modest 26-point margin of victory against the 14th ranked Serbs.

But in the wake of a third consecutive blowout, and their 44th successive victory in the Olympics, American players were once again facing uneasy questions about the lack of depth, quality and competitiveness in the women's game and its place on the Olympic program.

"I don't even know how to answer anymore," said Diana Taurasi who scored a game high 25 points. "Would it (be) better if we lost by 50?

"We have 12 women who dedicate their lives to the game of basketball year around. To knock us for doing that?

"That's a bit disrespectful, I would say."

After two close losses to Spain and Canada, the Serbs (0-3) looked determined to at least make the U.S. work for the win.

In the end no amount of grit could save the 2015 EuroBasket champions from succumbing to the same fate as every other team that has gone up against the U.S. at the last six Olympics.

"They didn't win the European championship for no reason," said Angel McCoughtry.

"It might look like a big margin, but it doesn't feel like it. Those games are hard."

Having scored more than 100 points in all three games so far, the U.S. received offensive contributions up and down their lineup with all 12 players scoring, led by Taurasi who made six three-pointers.

In other Group B action, Spain eased past China 89-68.

(Reporting by Steve Keating; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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