In a move that has sent ripples of excitement and anticipation through the world of women’s basketball, Kara Lawson has been officially named the new head coach of the U.S. women’s national basketball team. The announcement, made on September 22, 2025, marks the end of Cheryl Reeve’s legendary run at the helm and ushers in a new era for a program that has been nothing short of dominant on the world stage.
Lawson, currently the head coach of Duke University’s women’s basketball team, is no stranger to the USA Basketball family. She brings with her not only a wealth of coaching experience but also a storied playing career that includes Olympic gold and WNBA glory. The decision to appoint Lawson was made by Sue Bird, the recently named managing director of the USA Basketball women’s national team and herself an icon of the sport.
“Having shared the court with her, I know firsthand the leadership, competitive spirit and basketball IQ that she brings,” Bird said in a statement. “Kara has always had the respect of her teammates and her players, something she has earned and demonstrated over decades with USA Basketball.”
Lawson’s coaching responsibilities will extend through the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where the U.S. women will chase a ninth consecutive gold medal. But her role begins much sooner: she will also guide the Americans at the 2026 FIBA World Cup, as well as at a series of training camps and exhibition games leading up to the Olympics. Remarkably, Lawson will maintain her role at Duke, where she’s already built a reputation for excellence, leading the Blue Devils to a 97-41 record over five seasons, including three consecutive 20-win campaigns and an Elite Eight appearance in 2025—the program’s best showing in more than a decade.
Lawson’s appointment follows a time-honored tradition within USA Basketball of promoting successful assistant coaches to the head job. She served as an assistant to Cheryl Reeve at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the Americans secured their eighth straight gold medal, and has previously led the U.S. 3x3 team to gold at the Tokyo Games. As a player, Lawson was part of the U.S. squad that captured gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and her 13-year WNBA career included a championship with the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005. Her collegiate résumé is equally impressive: a two-time All-American at Tennessee, she helped guide the Lady Vols to three Final Four appearances.
“There is no greater honor in our sport than to be chosen to lead the U.S. women in world competition,” Lawson said in her first statement as head coach. “I will work tirelessly to uphold the standards of this storied program. I understand the responsibility and the challenges that lie ahead. I look forward to meeting them head on.”
Lawson’s ascension comes as the U.S. women’s team continues to set the gold standard in international basketball. The Americans’ run of eight consecutive Olympic golds is unprecedented, but recent results show that the rest of the world is closing the gap. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Team USA found themselves trailing France by 10 points early in the second half of the gold medal game—an unfamiliar position for a squad accustomed to dominating from the opening tip. It took a clutch basket from Kahleah Copper, ice-cold free throws from A’ja Wilson, and a critical block by Brenna Stewart to secure a nail-biting 67-66 victory.
Even the path to Paris was fraught with drama. In the Olympic qualifying tournament earlier that year, the Americans narrowly escaped Belgium 81-79, thanks to Stewart’s last-second tip-in. These close calls highlight the mounting pressure that Lawson will face as she steps into the spotlight. The expectation is, as always, gold or bust.
Lawson won’t be short on talent. The roster for Paris included the likes of A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier, and Alyssa Thomas—who finished first, second, and third in voting for the WNBA MVP award in 2025. With such a formidable player pool, the U.S. remains the favorite heading into every international tournament, but the margin for error is shrinking.
The transition from Reeve to Lawson appears to be amicable and free of controversy. Cheryl Reeve, who led Team USA to gold in Paris and boasts a résumé including four WNBA championships and four Coach of the Year honors with the Minnesota Lynx, has not publicly stated whether she wished to continue as head coach. As Patrick Borzi of MinnPost noted, “Cheryl Reeve, who coached ‘24 team to gold, never said publicly whether she wanted to return.” There’s no indication that Reeve was forced out, and the move is widely seen as a mutual decision, possibly reflecting Reeve’s own preference to focus on her ongoing WNBA career.
Under Reeve’s stewardship, Team USA continued its golden legacy, and her impact on both the Lynx and the national team has cemented her as one of the greatest coaches in women’s basketball history. Her successor, Lawson, inherits a program with sky-high expectations but also a deep foundation of excellence and unity.
Lawson’s coaching philosophy is shaped by her diverse experiences as a player and coach at every level of the game. She’s known for her tactical acumen, her ability to connect with players, and her relentless drive for improvement. “I will work tirelessly to uphold the standards of this storied program,” she reiterated, underlining her commitment to maintaining the U.S.’s place atop the basketball world.
As for Sue Bird, her role as managing director signals a new chapter for USA Basketball. Bird’s own legacy as a player is unmatched, and her influence in selecting Lawson underscores a vision for continuity, leadership, and adaptability as international competition intensifies.
The road to Los Angeles in 2028 will be filled with challenges, both expected and unforeseen. The rest of the world is watching, eager to topple the American dynasty. But with Kara Lawson at the helm, supported by a roster of elite athletes and a management team steeped in success, Team USA is poised to meet those challenges head-on.
As the countdown to the 2026 FIBA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics begins, all eyes will be on Lawson and her squad. Can they extend the gold-medal streak and continue their reign? One thing’s for sure: the journey promises to be as thrilling as ever.
